Oligonucleotide analogues having modified intersubunit linkages and/or terminal groups

ABSTRACT

Oligonucleotide analogues comprising modified intersubunit linkages and/or modified 3′ and/or 5′-end groups are provided. The disclosed compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases where inhibition of protein expression or correction of aberrant mRNA splice products produces beneficial therapeutic effects.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/247,584, filed on Aug. 25, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/298,655 filed on Jun. 6, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,469,664, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/118,298 filed on May 27, 2011, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,128 which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/349,783 filed on May 28, 2010; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/361,878 filed on Jul. 6, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/386,428 filed on Sep. 24, 2010, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing associated with this application is provided in text format in lieu of a paper copy, and is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification. The name of the text file containing the Sequence Listing is 120178_487C1_SEQUENCE_LISTING.txt. The text file is about 18 KB, was created on Jun. 5, 2014, and is being submitted electronically.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention is generally related to oligonucleotide compounds (oligomers) useful as antisense compounds, and more particularly to oligomer compounds comprising modified intersubunit linkages and/or terminal groups, and the use of such oligomer compounds in antisense applications.

Description of the Related Art

Antisense oligomers are generally designed to bind to DNA or RNA of disease-causing proteins to prevent the production of such proteins. Requirements for successful implementation of antisense therapeutics include (a) stability in vivo, (b) sufficient membrane permeability and cellular uptake, and (c) a good balance of binding affinity and sequence specificity. Many oligonucleotide analogues have been developed in which the phosphodiester linkages of native DNA are replaced by other linkages that are resistant to nuclease degradation (see, e.g., Barawkar, D. A. et al., Proc. Na't'l Acad. Sci. USA 95(19):11047-52 (1998); Linkletter, B. A. et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 29(11):2370-6 (2001); Micklefield, J., Curr, Med, Chem, 8(10):1157-79 (2001)). Antisense oligonucleotides having other various backbone modifications have also been prepared (Crooke, S. T., Antisense Drug Technology: Principles, Strategies, and Applications, New York, Marcel Dekker (2001); Micklefield, J., Curr, Med, Chem, 8(10):1157-79 (2001); Crooke, S. T., Antisense Drug Technology, Boca Raton, CRC Press (2008)). In addition, oligonucleotides have been modified by peptide conjugation in order to enhance cellular uptake (Moulton, H. M. et al., Bioconjug Chem 15(2):290-9 (2004); Nelson, M. H. et al., Bioconjug. Chem. 16(4):959-66 (2005); Moulton, H. M. et al., Biochim Biophys Acta (2010)).

The performance of such nucleic acid analogues as antisense or antigene drugs has been hampered by certain characteristics of the various analogues. For example, analogues with negatively charged linkages, including phosphorothioate-linked analogues, suffer from considerable electrostatic repulsion between the negative charges of the oligomer and the DNA or RNA target. The phosphorothioates also exhibit non-specific binding to other cellular components such as proteins. These attributes limit the therapeutic effectiveness of antisense oligomers comprised of native RNA, native DNA, and negatively charged analogues (Crooke, S. T., Antisense Drug Technology: Principles, Strategies, and Applications, New York, Marcel Dekker (2001); Crooke, S. T., Antisense Drug Technology, Boca Raton, CRC Press (2008)). The nonionic methylphosphonate-linked oligonucleotide analogues can be transported into cells by passive diffusion and/or fluid phase endocytosis, but their use is hampered by stereoisomeric complexity and poor solubility (Crooke, S. T., Antisense Drug Technology: Principles, Strategies, and Applications, New York, Marcel Dekker (2001); Micklefield, J., Curr, Med, Chem, 8(10):1157-79 (2001)).

Several groups have reported the synthesis of positively charged oligonucleotides (Bailey, C. P. et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 26(21):4860-7 (1998); Micklefield, J., Curr, Med, Chem, 8(10):1157-79 (2001); Egli, M. et al., Biochemistry 44(25):9045-57 (2005)). For example, a class of guanidinium linked nucleosides (designated DNG), formed by replacement of the phosphate linkages in DNA and RNA by achiral guanidino groups, has been reported (Dempcy, R. O. et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 91(17):7864-8 (1994); Dempcy, R. O. et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 93(9):4326-30 (1996); Barawkar, D. A. et al., Proc. Na't'l Acad. Sci. USA 95(19):11047-52 (1998); Linkletter, B. A. et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 29(11):2370-6 (2001)). Oligomers linked with positively charged methylated thiourea linkages have also been reported (Arya, D. P. et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci USA 96(8): 4384-9 (1999)). Replacement of some of these linkages with neutral urea linkages has been reported to reduce the tendency of such positively charged oligomers towards non-sequence-specific binding (Linkletter, B. A. et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. 8(8):1893-901 (2000)). Morpholino oligomers containing (1-piperazino) phosphinylideneoxy and (1-(4-(ω-guanidino-alkanoyl))-piperazino) phosphinylideneoxy linkages have been described previously (see e.g., WO2008036127).

Although significant progress has been made, there remains a need in the art for oligonucleotide analogues with improved antisense or antigene performance. Such improved antisense or antigene performance includes; stronger affinity for DNA and RNA without compromising sequence selectivity; improved pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution; improved cellular delivery and reliable and controllable in vivo distribution.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Compounds of the present invention address these issues and provide improvements over existing antisense molecules in the art. Modification of the intersubunit linkages and/or conjugation of terminal moieties to the 5′ and/or 3′ terminus of an oligonucleotide analogue, for example a morpholino oligonucleotide, results in an antisense oligomer having superior properties. For example, in certain embodiments the disclosed oligomers have enhanced cell delivery, potency, and/or tissue distribution compared to other oligonucleotide analogues and/or can be effectively delivered to the target organs. These superior properties give rise to favorable therapeutic indices, reduced clinical dosing, and lower cost of goods.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an oligomer comprising a backbone, the backbone comprising a sequence of morpholino ring structures joined by intersubunit linkages, the intersubunit linkages joining a 3′-end of one morpholino ring structure to a 5′-end of an adjacent morpholino ring structure, wherein each morpholino ring structure is bound to a base-pairing moiety, such that the oligomer can bind in a sequence-specific manner to a target nucleic acid, wherein the intersubunit linkages have the following general structure (I):

or a salt or isomer thereof, and wherein each of the intersubunit linkages (I) are independently linkage (A) or linkage (B):

-   -   wherein for linkage (A):         -   W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O;         -   X is, at each occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂, —NR¹R²,             —OR³ or;

-   -   -   Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR²,         -   R¹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl;         -   R² is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or             -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷;         -   R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆             alkyl;         -   R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl,             —C(═NH)NH₂, —Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂ or —[C(O)CHR′NH]_(m)H, where Z             is carbonyl(C(O)) or a direct bond, R′ is a side chain of a             naturally occurring amino acid or a one- or two-carbon             homolog thereof, and m is 1 to 6;         -   R⁵ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl or             an electron pair;         -   R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl;         -   R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen C₁-C₆             alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkoxyalkyl;         -   L is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising             alkyl, alkoxy or alkylamino groups, or combinations thereof;             and

    -   wherein for linkage (B):         -   W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O;         -   X is, at each occurrence, independently —NR⁸R⁹ or —OR³; and         -   Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR¹⁰,         -   R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂             alkyl;         -   R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂             alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl;         -   R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂             alkyl or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷;         -   wherein R⁸ and R⁹ may join to form a 5-18 membered mono or             bicyclic heterocycle or R⁸, R⁹ or R³ may join with R¹⁰ to             form a 5-7 membered heterocycle, and wherein when X is             4-piparazino, X has the following structure (III):

-   -   wherein:         -   R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂ alkyl,             C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl or             heterocyclyl; and         -   R is, at each occurrence, independently an electron pair,             hydrogen or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and         -   R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂             alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴,             —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, oxo, —CN,             trifluoromethyl, amidyl, amidinyl, amidinylalkyl,             amidinylalkylcarbonyl guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl,             guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate, aryl,             heteroaryl, heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein             R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each occurrence, independently             C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and         -   wherein at least one of the intersubunit linkages is linkage             (B).

In another embodiment the present disclosure provides an oligomer comprising modified terminal groups, for example in one embodiment the disclosure provides an oligomer comprising a backbone, the backbone comprising a sequence of morpholino ring structures joined by intersubunit linkages of type (A), (B), or combinations thereof, wherein each morpholino ring structure supports a base-pairing moiety, such that the oligomer compound can bind in a sequence-specific manner to a target nucleic acid, and wherein the oligomer comprises a 3′ terminus, a 5′ terminus and has the following structure (XVII):

or a salt or isomer thereof, and

-   -   wherein for linkage (A):         -   W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O;         -   X is, at each occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂, —NR¹R²,             —OR³ or;

-   -   -   Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR²,         -   R¹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl;         -   R² is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or             -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷;         -   R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆             alkyl;         -   R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl,             —C(═NH)NH₂, —Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂ or —[C(O)CHR′NH]_(m)H, where Z             is carbonyl(C(O)) or a direct bond, R′ is a side chain of a             naturally occurring amino acid or a one- or two-carbon             homolog thereof, and m is 1 to 6;         -   R⁵ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl or             an electron pair;         -   R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl;         -   R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen C₁-C₆             alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkoxyalkyl;         -   L is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising             alkyl, alkoxy or alkylamino groups, or combinations thereof;             and

    -   wherein for linkage (B):         -   W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O;         -   X is, at each occurrence, independently —NR⁸R⁹ or —OR³; and         -   Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR¹⁰,         -   R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂             alkyl;         -   R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂             alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl;         -   R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂             alkyl or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷;         -   wherein R⁸ and R⁹ may join to form a 5-18 membered mono or             bicyclic heterocycle or R⁸, R⁹ or R³ may join with R¹⁰ to             form a 5-7 membered heterocycle, and wherein when X is             4-piparazino, X has the following structure (III):

-   -   wherein:         -   R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂ alkyl,             C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl or             heterocyclyl; and         -   R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently an electron pair,             hydrogen or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl;         -   R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂             alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴,             —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, —CN, trifluoromethyl,             amidyl, amidinyl, amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl,             guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl, guanidinylalkylcarbonyl,             cholate, deoxycholate, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, —SR¹³             or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each             occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and         -   R¹⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently absent, hydrogen             or C₁-C₆ alkyl;         -   R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are, at each occurrence, independently absent,             hydrogen, a cell-penetrating peptide, a natural or             non-natural amino acid, C₂-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, —C(═O)OR²¹ or             R²⁰;         -   R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl,             heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl,             C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈             cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀             arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀             alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀             aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂;         -   R²¹ is C₁-C₃₀ alkyl comprising one or more oxygen or             hydroxyl moieties or combinations thereof;         -   each R²² is independently C⁶-C¹² aryloxy;         -   B is a base-pairing moiety;         -   L¹ is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising             bonds selected from alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylamino,             amide, ester, disulfide, carbonyl, carbamate,             phosphorodiamidate, phosphoroamidate, phosphorothioate,             piperazine and phosphodiester;         -   x is an integer of 0 or greater; and         -   wherein at least one of R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is R²⁰ and provided that             both of R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are not absent.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of inhibiting production of a protein, the method comprising exposing a nucleic acid encoding the protein to an oligomer of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of treating a disease in a subject, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an oligomer. Methods of making the oligomers and methods for their use are also provided.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the following detailed description. To this end, various references are set forth herein which describe in more detail certain background information, procedures, compounds and/or compositions, and are each hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary morpholino oligomer structure comprising a phosphorodiamidate linkage.

FIG. 1B shows a morpholino oligomer as in FIG. 1A, but where the backbone linkages comprise one piperazino phosphorodiamidate linkage.

FIG. 1C shows a conjugate of an arginine-rich peptide and an antisense oligomer.

FIGS. 1D-G show the repeating subunit segment of exemplary morpholino oligonucleotides, designated 1D through 1G.

FIG. 2 depicts exemplary intersubunit linkages linked to a morpholino-T moiety.

FIG. 3 is a reaction scheme showing preparation of a linker for solid-phase synthesis.

FIG. 4 demonstrates preparation of a solid support for oligomer synthesis.

FIG. 5 shows exon skipping activity of representative oligomers.

FIG. 6 is a bar graph showing exon skipping in the mdx mouse model.

FIGS. 7A-7C provides results of treatment of transgenic eGFP mice with exemplary oligomers.

FIG. 8 shows reduction in viral M2 protein levels from cells treated with exemplary oligomers.

FIG. 9 shows antiviral activity and weight loss in mice treated with exemplary oligomers.

FIG. 10 provides body weight data of mice treated with exemplary oligomers.

FIG. 11 is eGFP splice-correction activity data in various tissues from mice treated with exemplary oligomers compared to PMO and PMO⁺ oligomers.

FIG. 12 shows a subset of eGFP splice-correction activity data in various tissues from mice treated with exemplary oligomers compared to PMO and PMO⁺ oligomers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Definitions

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments. Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” Further, headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Also, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The terms below, as used herein, have the following meanings, unless indicated otherwise:

“Amino” refers to the —NH₂ radical.

“Cyano” or “nitrile” refers to the —CN radical.

“Hydroxy” or “hydroxyl” refers to the —OH radical.

“Imino” refers to the ═NH substituent.

“Guanidinyl” refers to the —NHC(═NH)NH₂ substituent.

“Amidinyl” refers to the —C(═NH)NH₂ substituent.

“Nitro” refers to the —NO₂ radical.

“Oxo” refers to the ═O substituent.

“Thioxo” refers to the ═S substituent.

“Cholate” refers to the following structure:

“Deoxycholate” refers to the following structure:

“Alkyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain radical which is saturated or unsaturated (i.e., contains one or more double and/or triple bonds), having from one to thirty carbon atoms, and which is attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond. Alkyls comprising any number of carbon atoms from 1 to 30 are included. An alkyl comprising up to 30 carbon atoms is referred to as a C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, likewise, for example, an alkyl comprising up to 12 carbon atoms is a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. Alkyls (and other moieties defined herein) comprising other numbers of carbon atoms are represented similarly. Alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₅ alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkyl and C₄-C₈ alkyl. Representative alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 1-methylethyl (iso-propyl), n-butyl, i-butyl, s-butyl, n-pentyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl (t-butyl), 3-methylhexyl, 2-methylhexyl, ethenyl, prop-1-enyl, but-1-enyl, pent-1-enyl, penta-1,4-dienyl, ethynyl, propynyl, but-2-ynyl, but-3-ynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, and the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Alkylene” or “alkylene chain” refers to a straight or branched divalent hydrocarbon chain linking the rest of the molecule to a radical group. Alkylenes may be saturated or unsaturated (i.e., contains one or more double and/or triple bonds). Representative alkylenes include, but are not limited to, C₁-C₁₂ alkylene, C₁-C₈ alkylene, C₁-C₆ alkylene, C₁-C₄ alkylene, C₁-C₃ alkylene, C₁-C₂ alkylene, C₁ alkylene. Representative alkylene groups include, but are not limited to, methylene, ethylene, propylene, n-butylene, ethenylene, propenylene, n-butenylene, propynylene, n-butynylene, and the like. The alkylene chain is attached to the rest of the molecule through a single or double bond and to the radical group through a single or double bond. The points of attachment of the alkylene chain to the rest of the molecule and to the radical group can be through one carbon or any two carbons within the chain. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkylene chain may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Alkoxy” refers to a radical of the formula —OR_(a) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkoxy group may be optionally substituted as described below.

Alkoxyalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(b)OR_(a) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined and where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkoxyalkyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Alkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(a) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Alkyloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)OR_(a) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkyloxycarbonyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Alkylamino” refers to a radical of the formula —NHR_(a) or —NR_(a)R_(a) where each R_(a) is, independently, an alkyl radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkylamino group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Amidyl” refers to a radical of the formula —N(H)C(═O) R_(a) where R_(a) is an alkyl or aryl radical as defined herein. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an amidyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Amidinylalkyl” refers a radical of the formula —R_(b)—C(═NH)NH₂ where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an amidinylalkyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Amidinylalkylcarbonyl” refers a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(b)—C(═NH)NH₂ where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an amidinylalkylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Aminoalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(b)—NR_(a)R_(a) where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined above, and each R_(a) is independently a hydrogen or an alkyl radical.

“Thioalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —SR_(a) where R_(a) is an alkyl radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a thioalkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aryl” refers to a radical derived from a hydrocarbon ring system comprising hydrogen, 6 to 30 carbon atoms and at least one aromatic ring. The aryl radical may be a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system, which may include fused or bridged ring systems. Aryl radicals include, but are not limited to, aryl radicals derived from the hydrocarbon ring systems of aceanthrylene, acenaphthylene, acephenanthrylene, anthracene, azulene, benzene, chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, as-indacene, s-indacene, indane, indene, naphthalene, phenalene, phenanthrene, pleiadene, pyrene, and triphenylene. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the term “aryl” or the prefix “ar-” (such as in “aralkyl”) is meant to include aryl radicals that are optionally substituted.

“Aralkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(b)—R_(c) where R_(b) is an alkylene chain as defined above and R_(c) is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example, benzyl, diphenylmethyl, trityl and the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an aralkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Arylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)R, where R, is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example, phenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an arylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aryloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)OR, where R, is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example, phenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an aryloxycarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aralkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(b)—R_(c) where R_(b) is an alkylene chain as defined above and R, is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example, phenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an aralkylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aralkyloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)OR_(b)—R_(c) where R_(b) is an alkylene chain as defined above and R_(c) is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example, phenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an aralkyloxycarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Aryloxy” refers to a radical of the formula —OR, where R, is one or more aryl radicals as defined above, for example, phenyl. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an arylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to a stable, non-aromatic, monocyclic or polycyclic carbocyclic ring, which may include fused or bridged ring systems, which is saturated or unsaturated, and attached to the rest of the molecule by a single bond. Representative cycloalkyls include, but are not limited to, cycloaklyls having from three to fifteen carbon atoms and from three to eight carbon atoms, Monocyclic cyclcoalkyl radicals include, for example, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl. Polycyclic radicals include, for example, adamantyl, norbornyl, decalinyl, and 7,7-dimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanyl. Unless otherwise stated specifically in the specification, a cycloalkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Cycloalkylalkyl” refers to a radical of the formula —R_(b)R_(d) where R_(b) is an alkylene chain as defined above and R_(d) is a cycloalkyl radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a cycloalkylalkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Cycloalkylcarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(d) where R_(d) is a cycloalkyl radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a cycloalkylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

Cycloalkyloxycarbonyl” refers to a radical of the formula —C(═O)OR_(d) where R_(d) is a cycloalkyl radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a cycloalkyloxycarbonyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Fused” refers to any ring structure described herein which is fused to an existing ring structure. When the fused ring is a heterocyclyl ring or a heteroaryl ring, any carbon atom on the existing ring structure which becomes part of the fused heterocyclyl ring or the fused heteroaryl ring may be replaced with a nitrogen atom.

“Guanidinylalkyl” refers a radical of the formula —R_(b)—NHC(═NH)NH₂ where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a guanidinylalkyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Guanidinylalkylcarbonyl” refers a radical of the formula —C(═O)R_(b)—NHC(═NH)NH₂ where R_(b) is an alkylene radical as defined above. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a guanidinylalkylcarbonyl group may be optionally substituted as described below.

“Halo” or “halogen” refers to bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo.

“Haloalkyl” refers to an alkyl radical, as defined above, that is substituted by one or more halo radicals, as defined above, e.g., trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl, trichloromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 1,2-difluoroethyl, 3-bromo-2-fluoropropyl, 1,2-dibromoethyl, and the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a haloalkyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Perhalo” or “perfluoro” refers to a moiety in which each hydrogen atom has been replaced by a halo atom or fluorine atom, respectively.

“Heterocyclyl”, “heterocycle” or “heterocyclic ring” refers to a stable 3- to 24-membered non-aromatic ring radical comprising 2 to 23 carbon atoms and from one to 8 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous and sulfur. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, the heterocyclyl radical may be a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system, which may include fused or bridged ring systems; and the nitrogen, carbon or sulfur atoms in the heterocyclyl radical may be optionally oxidized; the nitrogen atom may be optionally quaternized; and the heterocyclyl radical may be partially or fully saturated. Examples of such heterocyclyl radicals include, but are not limited to, dioxolanyl, thienyl[1,3]dithianyl, decahydroisoquinolyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, octahydroindolyl, octahydroisoindolyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 4-piperidonyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, quinuclidinyl, thiazolidinyl, tetrahydrofuryl, trithianyl, tetrahydropyranyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxo-thiomorpholinyl, 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6, 21-crown-7, aza-18-crown-6, diaza-18-crown-6, aza-21-crown-7, and diaza-21-crown-7. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a heterocyclyl group may be optionally substituted.

“Heteroaryl” refers to a 5- to 14-membered ring system radical comprising hydrogen atoms, one to thirteen carbon atoms, one to six heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous and sulfur, and at least one aromatic ring. For purposes of this invention, the heteroaryl radical may be a monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic or tetracyclic ring system, which may include fused or bridged ring systems; and the nitrogen, carbon or sulfur atoms in the heteroaryl radical may be optionally oxidized; the nitrogen atom may be optionally quatemized. Examples include, but are not limited to, azepinyl, acridinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzindolyl, benzodioxolyl, benzofuranyl, benzooxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzo[b][1,4]dioxepinyl, 1,4-benzodioxanyl, benzonaphthofuranyl, benzoxazolyl, benzodioxolyl, benzodioxinyl, benzopyranyl, benzopyranonyl, benzofuranyl, benzofuranonyl, benzothienyl (benzothiophenyl), benzotriazolyl, benzo[4,6]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl, carbazolyl, cinnolinyl, dibenzofuranyl, dibenzothiophenyl, furanyl, furanonyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, indazolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolyl, indolizinyl, isoxazolyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, 2-oxoazepinyl, oxazolyl, oxiranyl, 1-oxidopyridinyl, 1-oxidopyrimidinyl, 1-oxidopyrazinyl, 1-oxidopyridazinyl, 1-phenyl-1H-pyrrolyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, phenoxazinyl, phthalazinyl, pteridinyl, purinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinolinyl, quinuclidinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazinyl, and thiophenyl (i.e., thienyl). Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, a heteroaryl group may be optionally substituted.

All the above groups may be either substituted or unsubstituted. The term “substituted” as used herein means any of the above groups (i.e., alkyl, alkylene, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkyloxycarbonyl, alkylamino, amidyl, amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl, aminoalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylcarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, aralkylcarbonyl, aralkyloxycarbonyl, aryloxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, guanidinylalkyl, guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, haloalkyl, heterocyclyl and/or heteroaryl), may be further functionalized wherein at least one hydrogen atom is replaced by a bond to a non-hydrogen atom substituent. Unless stated specifically in the specification, a substituted group may include one or more substituents selected from: oxo, —CO₂H, nitrile, nitro, —CONH₂, hydroxyl, thiooxy, alkyl, alkylene, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkyloxycarbonyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylcarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, aralkylcarbonyl, aralkyloxycarbonyl, aryloxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, dialkylamines, arylamines, alkylarylamines, diarylamines, N-oxides, imides, and enamines; a silicon atom in groups such as trialkylsilyl groups, dialkylarylsilyl groups, alkyldiarylsilyl groups, triarylsilyl groups, perfluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkoxy, for example, trifluoromethyl or trifluoromethoxy. “Substituted” also means any of the above groups in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by a higher-order bond (e.g., a double- or triple-bond) to a heteroatom such as oxygen in oxo, carbonyl, carboxyl, and ester groups; and nitrogen in groups such as imines, oximes, hydrazones, and nitriles. For example, “substituted” includes any of the above groups in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced with —NR_(g)C(═O)NR_(g)R_(h), —NR_(g)C(═O)OR_(h), —NR_(g)SO₂R_(h), —OC(═O)NR_(g)R_(h), —OR_(g), —SR_(g), —SOR_(g), —SO₂R_(g), —OSO₂R_(g), —SO₂OR_(g), ═NSO₂R_(g), and —SO₂NR_(g)R_(h). “Substituted” also means any of the above groups in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced with —C(═O)R_(g), —C(═O)OR_(g), —CH₂SO₂R_(g), —CH₂SO₂NR_(g)R_(h), —SH, —SR_(g) or —SSR_(g). In the foregoing, R_(g) and R_(h) are the same or different and independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, thioalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, haloalkyl, heterocyclyl, N-heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, N-heteroaryl and/or heteroarylalkyl. In addition, each of the foregoing substituents may also be optionally substituted with one or more of the above substituents. Furthermore, any of the above groups may be substituted to include one or more internal oxygen or sulfur atoms. For example, an alkyl group may be substituted with one or more internal oxygen atoms to form an ether or polyether group. Similarily, an alkyl group may be substituted with one or more internal sulfur atoms to form a thioether, disulfide, etc. Amidyl moieties may be substituted with up to 2 halo atoms, while other groups above may be substituted with one or more halo atoms. With the exception of alkyl groups, all other groups may also be substituted with amino or monoalklyamino. With the exception of alkyl and alkylcarbonyl groups, all other groups may also be substituted with guanidinyl or amidynyl. Optional substitutents for any of the above groups also include arylphosphoryl, for example —R_(a)P(Ar)₃ wherein Ra is an alkylene and Ar is aryl moiety, for example phenyl.

The terms “antisense oligomer” or “antisense compound” are used interchangeably and refer to a sequence of subunits, each having a base carried on a backbone subunit composed of ribose or other pentose sugar or morpholino group, and where the backbone groups are linked by intersubunit linkages that allow the bases in the compound to hybridize to a target sequence in a nucleic acid (typically an RNA) by Watson-Crick base pairing, to form a nucleic acid:oligomer heteroduplex within the target sequence. The oligomer may have exact sequence complementarity to the target sequence or near complementarity. Such antisense oligomers are designed to block or inhibit translation of the mRNA containing the target sequence, and may be said to be “directed to” a sequence with which it hybridizes.

A “morpholino oligomer” or “PMO” refers to a polymeric molecule having a backbone which supports bases capable of hydrogen bonding to typical polynucleotides, wherein the polymer lacks a pentose sugar backbone moiety, and more specifically a ribose backbone linked by phosphodiester bonds which is typical of nucleotides and nucleosides, but instead contains a ring nitrogen with coupling through the ring nitrogen. An exemplary“morpholino” oligomer comprises morpholino subunit structures linked together by (thio)phosphoramidate or (thio)phosphorodiamidate linkages, joining the morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to the 5′ exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit, each subunit comprising a purine or pyrimidine base-pairing moiety effective to bind, by base-specific hydrogen bonding, to a base in a polynucleotide. Morpholino oligomers (including antisense oligomers) are detailed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,685; 5,217,866; 5,142,047; 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,521,063; 5,506,337 and pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/271,036; 12/271,040; and PCT publication number WO/2009/064471 all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Representative PMOs include PMOs wherin the intersubunit linkages are linkage (A1).

“PMO+” refers to phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers comprising any number of (1-piperazino)phosphinylideneoxy, (1-(4-(ω-guanidino-alkanoyl))-piperazino)phosphinylideneoxy linkages (A2 and A3) that have been described previously (see e.g., PCT publication WO/2008/036127 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

“PMO-X” refers to phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers disclosed herein comprising at least one (B) linkage or at least one of the disclosed terminal modifications.

A “phosphoramidate” group comprises phosphorus having three attached oxygen atoms and one attached nitrogen atom, while a “phosphorodiamidate” group (see e.g., FIGS. 1D-E) comprises phosphorus having two attached oxygen atoms and two attached nitrogen atoms. In the uncharged or the modified intersubunit linkages of the oligomers described herein and U.S. Patent Application Nos. 61/349,783 and Ser. No. 11/801,885, one nitrogen is always pendant to the backbone chain. The second nitrogen, in a phosphorodiamidate linkage, is typically the ring nitrogen in a morpholino ring structure.

“Thiophosphoramidate” or “thiophosphorodiamidate” linkages are phosphoramidate or phosphorodiamidate linkages, respectively, wherein one oxygen atom, typically the oxygen pendant to the backbone, is replaced with sulfur.

“Intersubunit linkage” refers to the linkage connecting two morpholino subunits, for example structure (I).

“Charged”, “uncharged”, “cationic” and “anionic” as used herein refer to the predominant state of a chemical moiety at near-neutral pH, e.g., about 6 to 8. For example, the term may refer to the predominant state of the chemical moiety at physiological pH, that is, about 7.4.

“Lower alkyl” refers to an alkyl radical of one to six carbon atoms, as exemplified by methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, t-butyl, isoamyl, n-pentyl, and isopentyl. In certain embodiments, a “lower alkyl” group has one to four carbon atoms. In other embodiments a “lower alkyl” group has one to two carbon atoms; i.e. methyl or ethyl. Analogously, “lower alkenyl” refers to an alkenyl radical of two to six, preferably three or four, carbon atoms, as exemplified by allyl and butenyl.

A “non-interfering” substituent is one that does not adversely affect the ability of an antisense oligomer as described herein to bind to its intended target. Such substituents include small and/or relatively non-polar groups such as methyl, ethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, or fluoro.

An oligonucleotide or antisense oligomer “specifically hybridizes” to a target polynucleotide if the oligomer hybridizes to the target under physiological conditions, with a Tm greater than 37° C., greater than 45° C., preferably at least 50° C., and typically 60° C.-80° C. or higher. The “Tm” of an oligomer is the temperature at which 50% hybridizes to a complementary polynucleotide. Tm is determined under standard conditions in physiological saline, as described, for example, in Miyada et al., Methods Enzymol. 154:94-107 (1987). Such hybridization may occur with “near” or “substantial” complementary of the antisense oligomer to the target sequence, as well as with exact complementarity.

Polynucleotides are described as “complementary” to one another when hybridization occurs in an antiparallel configuration between two single-stranded polynucleotides. Complementarity (the degree that one polynucleotide is complementary with another) is quantifiable in terms of the proportion of bases in opposing strands that are expected to form hydrogen bonds with each other, according to generally accepted base-pairing rules.

A first sequence is an “antisense sequence” with respect to a second sequence if a polynucleotide whose sequence is the first sequence specifically binds to, or specifically hybridizes with, the second polynucleotide sequence under physiological conditions.

The term “targeting sequence” is the sequence in the oligonucleotide analog that is complementary (meaning, in addition, substantially complementary) to the target sequence in the RNA genome. The entire sequence, or only a portion, of the analog compound may be complementary to the target sequence. For example, in an analog having 20 bases, only 12-14 may be targeting sequences. Typically, the targeting sequence is formed of contiguous bases in the analog, but may alternatively be formed of non-contiguous sequences that when placed together, e.g., from opposite ends of the analog, constitute sequence that spans the target sequence.

Target and targeting sequences are described as “complementary” to one another when hybridization occurs in an antiparallel configuration. A targeting sequence may have “near” or “substantial” complementarity to the target sequence and still function for the purpose of the presently described methods, that is, still be “complementary.” Preferably, the oligonucleotide analog compounds employed in the presently described methods have at most one mismatch with the target sequence out of 10 nucleotides, and preferably at most one mismatch out of 20. Alternatively, the antisense oligomers employed have at least 90% sequence homology, and preferably at least 95% sequence homology, with the exemplary targeting sequences as designated herein. For purposes of complementary binding to an RNA target, and as discussed below, a guanine base may be complementary to either a cytosineor uracil RNA base.

A “heteroduplex” refers to a duplex between an oligonculeotide analog and the complementary portion of a target RNA. A “nuclease-resistant heteroduplex” refers to a heteroduplex formed by the binding of an antisense oligomer to its complementary target, such that the heteroduplex is substantially resistant to in vivo degradation by intracellular and extracellular nucleases, such as RNAse H, which are capable of cutting double-stranded RNA/RNA or RNA/DNA complexes.

An agent is “actively taken up by mammalian cells” when the agent can enter the cell by a mechanism other than passive diffusion across the cell membrane. The agent may be transported, for example, by “active transport”, referring to transport of agents across a mammalian cell membrane by e.g. an ATP-dependent transport mechanism, or by “facilitated transport”, referring to transport of antisense agents across the cell membrane by a transport mechanism that requires binding of the agent to a transport protein, which then facilitates passage of the bound agent across the membrane.

The terms “modulating expression” and/or “antisense activity” refer to the ability of an antisense oligomer to either enhance or, more typically, reduce the expression of a given protein, by interfering with the expression or translation of RNA. In the case of reduced protein expression, the antisense oligomer may directly block expression of a given gene, or contribute to the accelerated breakdown of the RNA transcribed from that gene. Morpholino oligomers as described herein are believed to act via the former (steric blocking) mechanism. Preferred antisense targets for steric blocking oligomers include the ATG start codon region, splice sites, regions closely adjacent to splice sites, and 5′-untranslated region of mRNA, although other regions have been successfully targeted using morpholino oligomers.

An “amino acid subunit” is preferably an α-amino acid residue (—CO—CHR—NH—); it may also be a β- or other amino acid residue (e.g. —CO—CH₂CHR—NH—), where R is an amino acid side chain.

The term “naturally occurring amino acid” refers to an amino acid present in proteins found in nature. The term “non-natural amino acids” refers to those amino acids not present in proteins found in nature; examples include beta-alanine (β-Ala) and 6-aminohexanoic acid (Ahx).

An “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” refers to an amount of antisense oligomer administered to a mammalian subject, either as a single dose or as part of a series of doses, which is effective to produce a desired therapeutic effect, typically by inhibiting translation of a selected target nucleic acid sequence.

“Treatment” of an individual (e.g. a mammal, such as a human) or a cell is any type of intervention used in an attempt to alter the natural course of the individual or cell. Treatment includes, but is not limited to, administration of a pharmaceutical composition, and may be performed either prophylactically or subsequent to the initiation of a pathologic event or contact with an etiologic agent.

II. Antisense Oligomers

A. Oligomers with Modified Intersubunit Linkages

As noted above, one embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to oligomers comprising novel intersubunit linkages. In some embodiments, the oligomers have higher affinity for DNA and RNA than do the corresponding unmodified oligomers and demonstrate improved cell delivery, potency, and/or tissue distribution properties compared to oligomers having other intersubunit linkages. In one embodiment, the oligomers comprise at least one intersubunit linkage of type (B) as defined above. The oligomers may also comprise one or more intersubunit linkages of type (A) as defined above. The structural features and properties of the various linkage types and oligomers are described in more detail in the following discussion.

1. Linkage (A)

Applicants have found that enhancement of antisense activity, biodistribution and/or other desirable properties can be optimized by preparing oligomers having various intersubunit linkages. For example, the oligomers may optionally comprise one or more intersubunit linkages of type (A), and in certain embodiments the oligomers comprise at least one linkage of type (A). In some other embodiments each linkage of type (A) has the same structure. Linkages of type (A) may include linkages disclosed in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,762 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Linkage (A) has the following structure (I), wherein 3′ and 5′ indicate the point of attachment to the 3′ and 5′ ends, respectively, of the morpholino ring (i.e., structure (i) discussed below):

or a salt or isomer thereof, wherein:

-   -   W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O;     -   X is, at each occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂, —NR¹R², —OR³         or;

-   -   Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR²,     -   R¹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl;     -   R² is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷;     -   R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆         alkyl;     -   R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl,         —C(═NH)NH₂, —Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂ or —[C(═O)CHR′NH]_(m)H, where Z is         —C(═O)— or a direct bond, R′ is a side chain of a naturally         occurring amino acid or a one- or two-carbon homolog thereof,         and m is 1 to 6;     -   R⁵ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl or an         electron pair;     -   R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl;     -   R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen C₁-C₆ alkyl or         C₁-C₆ alkoxyalkyl; and     -   L is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising         alkyl, alkoxy or alkylamino groups, or combinations thereof.

In some examples, the oligomer comprises at least one linkage of type (A). In some other embodiments, the oligomer includes at least two consecutive linkages of type (A). In further embodiments, at least 5% of the linkages in the oligomer are type (A); for example in some embodiments, 5%-95%, 10% to 90%, 10% to 50%, or 10% to 35% of the linkages may be linkage type (A). In some specific embodiments, at least one type (A) linkage is —N(CH₃)₂. In other embodiments, each linkage of type (A) is —N(CH₃)₂. In other embodiments, at least one type (A) linkage is piperizin-1-yl, for example unsubstituted piperazin-1-yl (e.g., A2 or A3). In other embodiments, each linkage of type (A) is piperizin-1-yl, for example unsubstituted piperazin-1-yl.

In some embodiments, W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O, and in certain embodiments W is O.

In some embodiments, X is, at each occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂, —NR¹R², —OR³. In some embodiments X is —N(CH₃)₂. In other aspects X is —NR¹R², and in other examples X is —OR³.

In some embodiments, R¹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl. In some embodiments, R¹ is hydrogen. In other embodiments X is methyl.

In some embodiments, R² is, at each occurrence, hydrogen. In other embodiments R² is, at each occurrence, -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷. In some embodiments, R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl. In other embodiments, R³ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R³ is ethyl. In some other embodiments, R³ is n-propyl or isopropyl. In some other embodiments, R³ is C₄ alkyl. In other embodiments, R³ is C₅ alkyl. In some embodiments, R³ is C₆ alkyl.

In certain embodiments, R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen. In other embodiments, R⁴ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁴ is —C(═NH)NH₂, and in other embodiments, R⁴ is —Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂. In still other embodiments, R⁴ is —[C(═O)CHR′NH]_(m)H. Z is —C(═O)— in one embodiment and Z is a direct bond in another embodiment. R′ is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid. In some embodiments R′ is a one- or two-carbon homolog of a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid.

m is and integer from 1 to 6. m may be 1. m may be 2 m may be 3 m may be 4 m may be 5 m may be 6

In some embodiments, R⁵ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl or an electron pair. In some embodiments, R⁵ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, R⁵ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁵ is an electron pair.

In some embodiments, R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl. In some embodiments, R⁶ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, R⁶ is methyl.

In other embodiments, R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen C₁-C₆ alkyl or C₂-C₆ alkoxyalkyl. In some embodiments R⁷ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, R⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁷ is C₂-C₆ alkoxyalkyl. In some embodiments, R⁷ is methyl. In other embodiments, R⁷ is ethyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁷ is n-propyl or isopropyl. In some other embodiments, R⁷ is C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁷ is C₅ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁷ is C₆ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁷ is C₂ alkoxyalkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁷ is C₃ alkoxyalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁷ is C₄ alkoxyalkyl. In some embodiments, R⁷ is C₅ alkoxyalkyl. In other embodiments, R⁷ is C₆ alkoxyalkyl.

The linker group L, as noted above, contains bonds in its backbone selected from alkyl (e.g. —CH2-CH2-), alkoxy (e.g., —C—O—C—), and alkylamino (e.g. —CH2-NH—), with the proviso that the terminal atoms in L (e.g., those adjacent to carbonyl or nitrogen) are carbon atoms. Although branched linkages (e.g. —CH2-CHCH3-) are possible, the linker is generally unbranched. In one embodiment, the linker is a hydrocarbon linker. Such a linker may have the structure (CH2)_(n)-, where n is 1-12, preferably 2-8, and more preferably 2-6.

Oligomers having any number of linkage type (A) are provided. In some embodiments, the oligomer contains no linkages of type (A). In certain embodiments, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 percent of the linkages are linkage (A). In selected embodiments, 10 to 80, 20 to 80, 20 to 60, 20 to 50, 20 to 40, or 20 to 35 percent of the linkages are linkage (A).

2. Linkage (B)

In some embodiments, the oligomers comprise at least one linkage of type (B). For example the oligomers may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more linkages of type (B). The type (B) linkages may be adjacent or may be interspersed throughout the oligomer. Linkage type (B) has the following structure (I):

or a salt or isomer thereof, wherein:

-   -   W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O;     -   X is, at each occurrence, independently —NR⁸R⁹ or —OR³; and     -   Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR¹⁰,     -   R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆         alkyl;     -   R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂         alkyl;     -   R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl,         C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl;     -   R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl         or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷;     -   wherein R⁸ and R⁹ may join to form a 5-18 membered mono or         bicyclic heterocycle or R⁸, R⁹ or R³ may join with R¹⁰ to form a         5-7 membered heterocycle, and wherein when X is 4-piparazino, X         has the following structure (III):

wherein:

-   -   R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂         aminoalkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl or         heterocyclyl;     -   R is, at each occurrence, independently an electron pair,         hydrogen or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and     -   R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂         alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴, —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵,         C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, oxo, —CN, trifluoromethyl, amidyl,         amidinyl, amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl guanidinyl,         guanidinylalkyl, guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate,         aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein         R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂         alkyl.

In some examples, the oligomer comprises one linkage of type (B). In some other embodiments, the oligomer comprises two inkages of type (B). In some other embodiments, the oligomer comprises three linkages of type (B). In some other embodiments, the oligomer comprises four linkages of type (B). In still other embodiments, the linkages of type (B) are consecutive (i.e., the type (B) linkages are adjacent to each other). In further embodiments, at least 5% of the linkages in the oligomer are type (B); for example in some embodiments, 5%-95%, 10% to 90%, 10% to 50%, or 10% to 35% of the linkages may be linkage type (B).

In other embodiments, R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R³ may be methyl. In some embodiments, R³ may be ethyl. In some other embodiments, R³ may be n-propyl or isopropyl. In yet other embodiments, R³ may be C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, R³ may be C₅ alkyl. In some embodiments, R³ may be C₆ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁸ is hydrogen. In yet other embodiments, R⁸ is ethyl. In some other embodiments, R⁸ is n-propyl or isopropyl. In some embodiments, R⁸ is C₄ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁸ is C₅ alkyl. In other embodiments, R⁸ is C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁸ is C₇ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁸ is C₈ alkyl. In other embodiments, R⁸ is C₉ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁸ is C₁₀ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁸ is C₁₁ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁸ is C₁₂ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁸ is C₂-C₁₂ alkyl and the C₂-C₁₂ alkyl includes one or more double bonds (e.g., alkene), triple bonds (e.g., alkyne) or both. In some embodiments, R⁸ is unsubstituted C₂-C₁₂ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl. In some embodiments, R⁹ is hydrogen. In yet other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. In other embodiments, R⁹ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁹ is ethyl. In some other embodiments, R⁹ is n-propyl or isopropyl. In some embodiments, R⁹ is C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁹ is C₅ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁹ is C₆ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁹ is C₇ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁹ is C₈ alkyl. In some embodiments, R⁹ is C₉ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁₀ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁₁ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁₂ alkyl.

In some other embodiments, R⁹ is C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl. For example, n some embodiments R⁹ is benzyl and the benzyl may be optionally substituted on either the phenyl ring or the benzylic carbon. Substituents in this regards include alkyl and alkoxy groups, for example methyl or methoxy. In some embodiments, the benzyl group is substituted with methyl at the benzylic carbon. For example, in some embodiments, R⁹ has the following structure (XIV):

In other embodiments, R⁹ is aryl. For example, in some embodiments R⁹ is phenyl, and the phenyl may be optionally substituted. Substituents in this regard substitutuents include alkyl and alkoxy groups, for example methyl or methoxy. In other embodiments, R⁹ is phenyl and the phenyl comprises a crown ether moiety, for example a 12-18 membered crown ether. In one embodiment the crown ether is 18 membered and may further comprise and additional phenyl moiety. For example, in one embodiment R⁹ has one of the following structures (XV) or XVI):

In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷, wherein R⁴, R⁵ and R⁷ are as defined above with respect to linkage (A). In other embodiments, R¹⁰ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, and in other embodiments R¹⁰ is -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁰ is ethyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₃ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₄ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₅ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₆ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₇ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₈ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₉ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₁₀ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₁₁ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁰ is C₁₂ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R⁸ and R⁹ join to form a 5-18 membered mono or bicyclic heterocycle. In some embodiments the heterocycle is a 5 or 6 membered monocyclic heterocycle. For example, in some embodiments linkage (B) has the following structure (IV):

In other embodiments, heterocycle is bicyclic, for example a 12-membered bicyclic heterocycle. The heterocycle may be piperizinyl. The heterocycle may be morpholino. The heterocycle may be piperidinyl. The heterocycle may be decahydroisoquinoline. Representative heterocycles include the following:

In some embodiments, R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl.

In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₂-C₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is ethyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₃ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is isopropyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₄ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₅ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₆ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₇ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₈ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₉ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₀ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₁ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₂ alkyl.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is methylamino. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is ethylamino. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₃ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₄ aminoalkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₅ aminoalkyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₆ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₇ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₈ aminoalkyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₉ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₀ aminoalkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₁ aminoalkyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₂ aminoalkyl.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁ alkylcarbonyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₂ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₃ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₄ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₅ alkylcarbonyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₆ alkylcarbonyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₇ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₈ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₉ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₀ alkylcarbonyl. In some other embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₁ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹¹ is C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹¹ is —C(═O)(CH₂)_(n)CO₂H, where n is 1 to 6. For example, in some embodiments, n is 1. In other embodiments, n is 2. In yet other embodiments, n is 3. In some other embodiments, n is 4. In yet other embodiments, n is 5. In other embodiments, n is 6.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is aryl. For example, in some embodiments, R¹¹ is phenyl. In some embodiments, the phenyl is substituted, for example with a nitro group.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is heteroaryl. For example, in some embodiments, R¹¹ is pyridinyl. In other embodiments, R¹¹ is pyrimidinyl.

In other embodiments, R¹¹ is heterocyclyl. For example, in some embodiments, R¹¹ is piperidinyl, for example piperidin-4-yl.

In some embodiments, R¹¹ is ethyl, isopropyl, piperidinyl, pyrimidinyl, cholate, deoxycholate, or —C(═O)(CH₂)_(n)CO₂H, where n is 1 to 6.

In some embodiments, R is an electron pair. In other embodiments, R is hydrogen, and in other embodiments R is C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, R is methyl. In some embodiments, R is ethyl. In other embodiments, R is C₃ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R is isopropyl. In some other embodiments, R is C₄ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R is C₅ alkyl. In some embodiments, R is C₆ alkyl. In other embodiments, R is C₇ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R is C₈ alkyl. In other embodiments, R is C₉ alkyl. In some embodiments, R is C₁₀ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R is C₁₁ alkyl. In some embodiments, R is C₁₂ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴, —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, oxo, —CN, trifluoromethyl, amidyl, amidinyl, amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl, guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl

In some embodiments, R¹² is hydrogen. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is —NH₂. In some embodiments, R¹² is —CONH₂. In some embodiments, R¹² is —NR¹³R¹⁴. In some embodiments, R¹² is —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is oxo. In some embodiments, R¹² is —CN. In some embodiments, R¹² is trifluoromethyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is amidyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is amidinyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is amidinylalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is amidinylalkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is guanidinyl, for example mono methylguanidynyl or dimethylguanidinyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is guanidinylalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is amidinylalkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is cholate. In some embodiments, R¹² is deoxycholate. In some embodiments, R¹² is aryl. In some embodiments, R¹² is heteroaryl. In some embodiments, R¹² is heterocycle. In some embodiments, R¹² is —SR¹³. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹² is dimethyl amine.

In other embodiments, R¹² is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is ethyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₃ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is isopropyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₄ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₅ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₆ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₇ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₈ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₉ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁₀ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₁ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₂ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, the alkyl moiety is substituted with one or more oxygen atom to form an ether moiety, for example a methoxymethyl moiety.

In some embodiments, R¹² is methylamino. In other embodiments, R¹² is ethylamino. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₃ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₄ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₅ aminoalkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₆ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₇ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₈ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₉ aminoalkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₀ aminoalkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₁ aminoalkyl. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₂ aminoalkyl. In some embodiments, the amino alkyl is a dimethylamino alkyl.

In yet other embodiments, R¹² is acetyl. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₂ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₃ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₄ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₅ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₆ alkylcarbonyl. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₇ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₈ alkylcarbonyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₉ alkylcarbonyl. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₀ alkylcarbonyl. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁₁ alkylcarbonyl. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl. The alkylcarbonyl is substituted with a carboxy moiety, for example the alkylcarbonyl is substituted to form a succinic acid moiety (i.e., a 3-carboxyalkylcarbonyl). In other embodiments, the alkylcarbonyl is substituted with a terminal —SH group.

In some embodiments, R¹² is amidyl. In some embodiments, the amidyl comprises an alkyl moiety which is further substituted, for example with —SH, carbamate, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the amidyl is substituted with an aryl moiety, for example phenyl. In certain embodiments, R¹² may have the following structure (IX):

wherein R¹⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, —CN, aryl or heteroaryl.

In some embodiments, R¹² is methoxy. In other embodiments, R¹² is ethoxy. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₃ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₄ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₅ alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₆ alkoxy. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₇ alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹² is C₈ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₉ alkoxy. In other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₀ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹² is C₁₁ alkoxy. In yet other embodiments, R¹² is C₁₂ alkoxy.

In certain embodiments, R¹² is pyrrolidinyl, for example pyrrolidin-1-yl. In other embodiments, R¹² is piperidinyl, for example piperidin-1-yl or piperidin-4-yl. In other embodiment, R¹² is morpholino, for example morpholin-4-yl. In other embodiments, R¹² is phenyl, and in even further embodiments, the phenyl is substituted, for example with a nitro group. In still other embodiments, R¹² is pyrimidinyl, for example pyrimidin-2-yl.

In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is ethyl. In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₃ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is isopropyl. In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₅ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₆ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₇ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₈ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₉ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₁₀ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₁₁ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹³, R¹⁴ or R¹⁵ is C₁₂ alkyl.

As noted above, in some embodiments, R¹² is amidyl substituted with an aryl moiety. In this regard, each occurrence of R¹⁶ may be the same or different. In certain of these embodiments, R¹⁶ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is —CN. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is heteroaryl, for example tetrazolyl. In certain other embodiments, R¹⁶ is methoxy. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is aryl, and the aryl is optionally substituted. Optional substitutents in this regard include: C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, for example methoxy; trifluoromethoxy; halo, for example chloro; and trifluoromethyl.

In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is ethyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₃ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is isopropyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₄ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₅ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₆ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₇ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₈ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₉ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₀ alkyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₁ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₂ alkyl.

In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is methoxy. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is ethoxy. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₃ alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₄ alkoxy. In other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₅ alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₆ alkoxy. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₇ alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₈ alkoxy. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₉ alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₀ alkoxy. In some embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₁ alkoxy. In some other embodiments, R¹⁶ is C₁₂ alkoxy.

In some other embodiments, R⁸ and R⁹ join to form a 12-18 membered crown ether. For example, in some embodiments, the crown ether s 18 membered, and in other embodiments the crown ether is 15 membered. In certain embodiments, R⁸ and R⁹ join to form a heterocycle having one of the following structures (X) or (XI):

In some embodiments, R⁸, R⁹ or R³ join with R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 membered heterocycle. For example, in some embodiments, R³ joins with R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 membered heterocycle. In some embodiments, the heterocycle is 5-membered. In other embodiments, the heterocycle is 6-membered. In other embodiments, the heterocycle is 7-membered. In some embodiments, the heterocycle is represented by the following structure (XII):

wherein Z′ represents a 5-7 membered heterocycle. In certain embodiments of structure (XI), R¹² is hydrogen at each occurrence. For example, linkage (B) may have one of the following structures (B1), (B2) or (B3):

In certain other embodiments, R¹² is C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl or amidyl which is further substituted with an arylphosphonyl moiety, for example a triphenyl phosphoryl moiety. Examples of linkages having this structure include B56 and B55.

In certain embodiment, linkage (B) does not have any of the structures A1-A5. Table 1 shows representative linkages of type (A) and (B).

TABLE 1 Representative Intersubunit Linkages No. Name Structure A1  PMO

A2  PMO⁺ (unprotonated form depicted)

A3  PMO⁺ (+)

A4  PMO^(mepip) (m+)

A5  PMO^(GUX)

B1  PMO^(cp)

B2  PMO^(cps)

B3  PMO^(cpr)

B4  PMO^(Shc)

B5  PMO^(morpholino) (m)

B6  PMO^(tri) (t)

B7  PMO^(hex) (h)

B8  PMO^(dodec)

B9  PMO^(dihex)

B10 PMO^(apn) (a)

B11 PMO^(pyr) (p)

B12 PMO^(pyr) (HCl Salt)

B13 PMO^(rba)

B14 PMO^(sba)

B15 PMO^(dimethylapn)

B16 PMO^(etpip)

B17 PMO^(iprpip)

B18 PMO^(pyrQMe)

B19 PMO^(cb)

B20 PMO^(ma)

B21 PMO^(bu)

B22 PMO^(bi)

B23 PMO^(pip)

B24 PMO^(odmb)

B25 PMO^(tfb)

B26 PMO^(ctfb)

B27 PMO^(ptfb)

B28 PMO^(dcb)

B29 PMO^(dmb)

B30 PMO^(hy)

B31 PMO^(6ce)

B32 PMO^(b)

B33 PMO^(q)

B34 PMO^(npp)

B35 PMO^(o)

B36 PMO^(4ce)

B37 PMO^(5ce)

B38 PMO^(f3p)

B39 PMO^(cyp)

B40 PMO^(mop)

B41 PMO^(PP)

B42 PMO^(dmepip)

B43 PMO^(NPpip)

B44 PMO^(bipip)

B45 PMO^(suc)

B46 PMO^(glutaric)

B47 PMO^(tet)

B48 PMO^(thiol) (SH)

B49 PMO^(pros)

B50 PMO^(pror)

B51 PMO^(tme)

B52 PMO^(ca)

B53 PMO^(dca)

B54 PMO^(guan) (g)

B55 PMO^(+phos)

B56 PMO^(apnphos)

In the sequences and discussion that follows, the above names for the linkages are often used. For example, a base comprising a PMO^(apn) linkage is illustrated as ^(apn)B, where B is a base. Other linkages are designated similarly. In addition, abbreviated designations may be used, for example, the abbreviated designations in parentheses above may be used (e.g., ^(a)B, refers to ^(apn)B). Other readily identifiable abbreviations may also be used.

B. Oligomers with Modified Terminal Groups

As noted above, the present disclosure also provides an oligomer comprising modified terminal groups. Applicants have found that modification of the 3′ and/or 5′ end of the oligomer with various chemical moieties provides beneficial therapeutic properties (e.g., enhanced cell delivery, potency, and/or tissue distribution, etc.) to the oligomers. In various embodiments, the modified terminal groups comprise a hydrophobic moiety, while in other embodiments the modified terminal groups comprise a hydrophilic moiety. The modified terminal groups may be present with or without the linkages described above. For example, in some embodiments, the oligomers comprise one or more modified terminal group and linkages of type (A), for example linkages wherein X is —N(CH₃)₂. In other embodiments, the oligomers comprise one or more modified terminal group and linkages of type (B), for example linkages wherein X is 4-aminopiperidin-1-yl (i.e., APN). In yet other embodiments, the oligomers comprise one or more modified terminal group and a mixture of linkages (A) and (B). For example, the oligomers may comprise one or more modified terminal group (e.g., trityl or triphenyl acetyl) and linkages wherein X is —N(CH₃)₂ and linkages wherein X is 4-aminopiperidin-1-yl. Other combinations of modified terminal groups and modified linkages also provide favorable therapeutic properties to the oligomers.

In one embodiment, the oligomers comprising terminal modifications have the following structure (XVII):

or a salt or isomer thereof, wherein X, W and Y are as defined above for any of linkages (A) and (B) and:

-   -   R¹⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently absent, hydrogen or         C₁-C₆ alkyl;     -   R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are, at each occurrence, independently absent,         hydrogen, a cell-penetrating peptide, a natural or non-natural         amino acid, C₂-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, —C(═O)OR²¹ or R²⁰;     -   R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl,         heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl,         C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl,         C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀         aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈         cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀         aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂;     -   B is a base-pairing moiety;     -   L¹ is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising         bonds selected from alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, amide,         ester, disulfide, carbonyl, carbamate, phosphorodiamidate,         phosphoroamidate, phosphorothioate, piperazine and         phosphodiester; and     -   x is an integer of 0 or greater; and wherein at least one of R¹⁸         or R¹⁹ is R²⁰; and     -   wherein at least one of R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is R²⁰ and provided that both         of R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are not absent.

The oligomers with modified terminal groups may comprise any number of linkages of types (A) and (B). For example, the oligomers may comprise only linkage type (A). For example, X in each linkage may be —N(CH₃)₂. Alternatively, the oligomers may only comprise linkage (B). In certain embodiments, the oligomers comprise a mixture of linkages (A) and (B), for example from 1 to 4 linkages of type (B) and the remainder of the linkages being of type (A). Linkages in this regard include, but are not limited to, linkages wherein X is aminopiperidinyl for type (B) and dimethyl amino for type (A).

In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is absent. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is hydrogen. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is methyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁷ is ethyl. In some embodiments, R¹⁷ is C₃ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁷ is isopropyl. In other embodiments, R¹⁷ is C₄ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁷ is C₅ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R¹⁷ is C₆ alkyl.

In other embodiments, R¹⁸ is absent. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is hydrogen. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is a cell-penetrating peptide as described in more detail below. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is a natural or non-natural amino acid, for example trimethylglycine. In some embodiments, R¹⁸ is R²⁰.

In other embodiments, R¹⁹ is absent. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is hydrogen. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is a cell-penetrating peptide as described in more detail below. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is a natural or non-natural amino acid, for example trimethylglycine. In some embodiments, R¹⁹ is —C(═O)OR⁷, for example R¹⁹ may have the following structure:

In other embodiments R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is C₂-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, for example —C(═O)(CH₂)_(n)CO₂H, where n is 1 to 6, for example 2. In other examples, R's or R¹⁹ is acetyl.

In some embodiments, R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₆-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, —C(═O)OR²¹, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂, wherein R²¹ is C₁-C₃₀ alkyl comprising one or more oxygen or hydroxyl moieties or combinations thereof and each R²² is C₆-C¹² aryloxy.

In certain other embodiments, R¹⁹ is —C(═O)OR²¹ and R¹⁸ is hydrogen, guanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂, wherein each R²² is C⁶-C¹² aryloxy.

In other embodiments, R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂. While in other examples, R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂.

In some embodiments R²⁰ is guanidinyl, for example mono methylguanidynyl or dimethylguanidinyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is heterocyclyl. For example, in some embodiments, R²⁰ is piperidin-4-yl. In some embodiments, the piperidin-4-yl is substituted with trityl or Boc groups. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₆-C₃₀ aryl.

In some embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl. For example, in some embodiments, R²⁰ has the following structure (XVIII):

wherein R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocycloalkyl, and wherein one R²³ may join with another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring. In some embodiments, at least one R²³ is hydrogen, for example, in some embodiments, each R²³ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, at least one R²³ is C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, for example in some embodiments, each R²³ is methoxy. In other embodiments, at least one R²³ is heteroaryl, for example in some embodiments, at least one R²³ has one of the following structures (XVIIIa) of (XVIIIb):

In still other embodiments, one R²³ joins with another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring. For example, in one embodiment, R²⁰ is 5-carboxyfluorescein.

In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl. For example, in various embodiments, R²⁰ has one of the following structures (XIX), (XX) or (XXI):

wherein R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocycloalkyl, wherein one R²³ may join with another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring, X is —OH or halo and m is an integer from 0 to 6. In some specific embodiments, m is 0. In other embodiments, m is 1, while in other embodiments, m is 2. In other embodiments, at least one R²³ is hydrogen, for example in some embodiments each R²³ is hydrogen. In some embodiments, X is hydrogen. In other embodiments, X is —OH. In other embodiments, X is Cl. In other embodiments, at least one R²³ is C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, for example methoxy.

In still other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, for example trityl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is methoxy trityl. In some embodiments, R²⁰ has the following structure (XXII):

wherein R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocycloalkyl, and wherein one R²³ may join with another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring. For example, in some embodiments each R²³ is hydrogen. In other embodiments, at least one R²³ is C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, for example methoxy.

In yet other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl and R²⁰ has the following structure (XXIII):

In some embodiments, at least one R²³ is halo, for example chloro. In some other embodiments, one R²³ is chloro in the para position.

In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₁-C₃₀ alkyl. For example, in some embodiments, R²⁰ is a C₄-C₂₀ alkyl and optionally comprises one or more double bonds. For example, in some embodiments, R²⁰ is a C₄₋₁₀ alkyl comprising a triple bond, for example a terminal triple bond. In some embodiments, R²⁰ is hexyn-6-yl. In some embodiments, R²⁰ has one of the following structures (XXIV), (XXV), (XXVI) or (XXVII):

In still other embodiments, R²⁰ is a C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, for example a C₃-C₁₀ alkyl carbonyl. In some embodiments, R²⁰ is —C(═O)(CH₂)pSH or —C(═O)(CH₂)pSSHet, wherein p is an integer from 1 to 6 and Het is a heteroaryl. For example, p may be 1 or p may be 2. In other example Het is pyridinyl, for example pyridin-2-yl. In other embodiments, the C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl is substituted with a further oligomer, for example in some embodiments the oligomer comprises a C₃-C₃₀ alkyl carbonyl at the 3′ position which links the oligomer to the 3′ position of another oligomer. Such terminal modifications are included within the scope of the present disclosure.

In other embodiments, R²⁰ is a C₃-C₃₀ alkyl carbonyl which is further substituted with an arylphosphoryl moiety, for example triphenyl phosphoryl. Examples of such R²⁰ groups include structure 33 in Table 2.

In other examples, R²⁰ is C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, for example C₅-C₇ alkyl carbonyl. In these embodiments, R²⁰ has the following structure (XXVIII):

wherein R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, C₁-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclalkyl, and wherein one R²³ may join with another R²³ to form a heterocyclyl ring. In some embodiments, R²³ is heterocyclylalkyl, for example in some embodiments R²³ has the following structure:

In some other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₃-C₅ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is —P(═O)(R²²)₂, wherein each R²² is C⁶-C¹² aryloxy, for example in some embodiments R²⁰ has the following structure (C24):

In other embodiments, R²⁰ comprises one or more halo atoms. For example, in some embodiments R²⁰ comprises a perfluoro analogue of any of the above R²⁰ moieties. In other embodiments, R²⁰ is p-trifluoromethylphenyl, trifluoromethyltrityl, perfluoropentyl or pentafluorophenyl.

In some embodiments the 3′ terminus comprises a modification and in other embodiments the 5′ terminus comprises a modification. In other embodiments both the 3′ and 5′ termini comprise modifications. Accordingly, in some embodiments, R¹⁸ is absent and R¹⁹ is R²⁰. In other embodiments, R¹⁹ is absent and R¹⁸ is R²⁰. In yet other embodiments, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are each R²⁰.

In some embodiments, the oligomer comprises a cell-penetrating peptide in addition to a 3′ or 5′ modification. Accordingly, in some embodiments R¹⁹ is a cell-penetrating peptide and R¹⁸ is R²⁰. In other embodiments, R¹⁸ is a cell-penetrating peptide and R¹⁹ is R²⁰. In further embodiments of the foregoing, the cell-penetrating peptide is an arginine-rich peptide.

In some embodiments, the linker L¹ which links the 5′terminal group (i.e., R¹⁹) to the oligomer may be present or absent. The linker comprises any number of functional groups and lengths provided the linker retains its ability to link the 5′ terminal group to the oligomer and provided that the linker does not interfere with the oligomer's ability to bind to a target sequence in a sequence specific manner. In one embodiment, L comprises phosphorodiamidate and piperazine bonds. For example, in some embodiments L has the following structure (XXIX):

wherein R²⁴ is absent, hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is absent. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is hydrogen. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is C₁-C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is methyl. In other embodiments, R²⁴ is ethyl. In yet other embodiments, R²⁴ is C₃ alkyl. In some other embodiments, R²⁴ is isopropyl. In yet other embodiments, R²⁴ is C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is C₅ alkyl. In yet other embodiments, R²⁴ is C₆ alkyl.

In yet other embodiments, R²⁰ is C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, and R²⁰ has the following structure (XXX):

wherein R²⁵ is hydrogen or —SR²⁶, wherein R²⁶ is hydrogen, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl, and q is an integer from 0 to 6.

In further embodiments of any of the above, R²³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, halo, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclalkyl.

In some other embodiments, only the 3′ terminus of the oligomer is conjugated to one of the groups noted above. In some other embodiments, only the 5′ terminus of the oligomer is conjugated to one of the groups noted above. In other embodiments, both the 3′ and 5′ termini comprise one of the groups noted above. The terminal group may be selected from any one of the groups noted above or any of the specific groups illustrated in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Representative Terminal Groups No. Name Structure C1 Trimethoxybenzoyl

C2 9-fluorene-carboxyl

C3 4-carbazolylbenzoyl

C4 4-indazolylonebenzoyl

C5 Farnesyl

C6 Geranyl

C7 Prenyl

C8 Diphenylacetyl

C9 Chlorodiphenylacetyl

C10 Hydroxydiphenylacetyl

C11 Triphenylpropionyl

C12 Triphenylpropyl

C13 Triphenylacetyl

C14 Trityl (Tr)

C15 Methoxytrityl (MeOTr)

C16 Methylsuccinimidyl- cyclohexoyl

C17 Thioacetyl

C18 COCH₂CH₂SSPy

C19 Guanidinyl

C20 Trimethylglycine

C21 Lauroyl

C22 Triethyleneglycoloyl (EG3)

C23 Succinicacetyl

C24 Diphenylphosphoryl

C25 Piperidin-4-yl

C26 Tritylpiperidin-4-yl

C27 Boc-Piperidin-4-y1

C28 Hexyn-6-yl

C29 5-carboxyfluorescein

C30 Benzhydryl

C31 p-Chlorobenzhydryl

C32 Piperazinyl (pip)

C33 Triphenylphos

C34 Dimerized

Oligo = a further oligomer

1. Peptide Transporters

In some embodiments, the subject oligomer is conjugated to a peptide transporter moiety, for example a cell-penetrating peptide transport moiety, which is effective to enhance transport of the oligomer into cells. For example, in some embodiments the peptide transporter moiety is an arginine-rich peptide. In further embodiments, the transport moiety is attached to either the 5′ or 3′ terminus of the oligomer, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1C. When such peptide is conjugated to either termini, the opposite termini is then available for further conjugation to a modified terminal group as described herein.

In some embodiments of the foregoing, the peptide transport moiety comprises 6 to 16 subunits selected from X′ subunits, Y′ subunits, and Z′ subunits,

-   -   where         -   (a) each X′ subunit independently represents lysine,             arginine or an arginine analog, said analog being a cationic             α-amino acid comprising a side chain of the structure             R³³N═C(NH₂)R³⁴, where R³³ is H or R; R³⁴ is R³⁵, NH₂, NHR,             or NR₃₄, where R³⁵ is lower alkyl or lower alkenyl and may             further include oxygen or nitrogen; R³³ and R³⁴ may together             form a ring; and the side chain is linked to said amino acid             via R³³ or R³⁴;         -   (b) each Y′ subunit independently represents a neutral amino             acid —C(O)—(CHR)_(n)—NH—, where n is 2 to 7 and each R is             independently H or methyl; and         -   (c) each Z′ subunit independently represents an α-amino acid             having a neutral aralkyl side chain;         -   wherein the peptide comprises a sequence represented by one             of (X′Y′X′)_(p), (X′Y′)_(m), and (X′Z′Z′)_(p), where p is 2             to 5 and m is 2 to 8.

In selected embodiments, for each X′, the side chain moiety is guanidyl, as in the amino acid subunit arginine (Arg). In further embodiments, each Y′ is —CO—(CH₂)_(n-)CHR—NH—, where n is 2 to 7 and R is H. For example, when n is 5 and R is H, Y′ is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit, abbreviated herein as Ahx; when n is 2 and R is H, Y′ is a β-alanine subunit.

In certain embodiments, peptides of this type include those comprising arginine dimers alternating with single Y′ subunits, where Y′ is Ahx. Examples include peptides having the formula (RY′R)_(p) or the formula (RRY′)_(p), where Y′ is Ahx. In one embodiment, Y′ is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit, R is arginine and p is 4.

In a further embodiment, each Z′ is phenylalanine, and m is 3 or 4.

In some embodiments, the conjugated peptide is linked to a terminus of the oligomer via a linker Ahx-B, where Ahx is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit and B is a 3-alanine subunit.

In selected embodiments, for each X′, the side chain moiety is independently selected from the group consisting of guanidyl (HN═C(NH₂)NH—), amidinyl (HN═C(NH₂)C—), 2-aminodihydropyrimidyl, 2-aminotetrahydropyrimidyl, 2-aminopyridinyl, and 2-aminopyrimidonyl, and it is preferably selected from guanidyl and amidinyl. In one embodiment, the side chain moiety is guanidyl, as in the amino acid subunit arginine (Arg).

In some embodiments, the Y′ subunits are either contiguous, in that no X′ subunits intervene between Y′ subunits, or interspersed singly between X′ subunits. However, in some embodiments the linking subunit may be between Y′ subunits. In one embodiment, the Y′ subunits are at a terminus of the peptide transporter; in other embodiments, they are flanked by X′ subunits. In further embodiments, each Y′ is —CO—(CH₂)_(n-)CHR—NH—, where n is 2 to 7 and R is H. For example, when n is 5 and R is H, Y′ is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit, abbreviated herein as Ahx. In selected embodiments of this group, each X′ comprises a guanidyl side chain moiety, as in an arginine subunit. Exemplary peptides of this type include those comprising arginine dimers alternating with single Y′ subunits, where Y′ is preferably Ahx. Examples include peptides having the formula (RY′R)₄ or the formula (RRY′)₄, where Y′ is preferably Ahx. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid analog is linked to a terminal Y′ subunit, preferably at the C-terminus, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1C. In other embodiments, the linker is of the structure AhxB, where Ahx is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit and B is a β-alanine subunit.

The peptide transport moieties as described above have been shown to greatly enhance cell entry of attached oligomers, relative to uptake of the oligomer in the absence of the attached transport moiety, and relative to uptake by an attached transport moiety lacking the hydrophobic subunits Y′. Such enhanced uptake may be evidenced by at least a two-fold increase, or in other embodiments a four-fold increase, in the uptake of the compound into mammalian cells relative to uptake of the agent by an attached transport moiety lacking the hydrophobic subunits Y′. In some embodiments, uptake is enhanced at least twenty fold or at least forty fold, relative to the unconjugated compound.

A further benefit of the peptide transport moiety is its expected ability to stabilize a duplex between an antisense oligomer and its target nucleic acid sequence. While not wishing to be bound by theory, this ability to stabilize a duplex may result from the electrostatic interaction between the positively charged transport moiety and the negatively charged nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the number of charged subunits in the transporter is less than 14, as noted above, or in other embodiments between 8 and 11, since too high a number of charged subunits may lead to a reduction in sequence specificity.

Exemplary arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptide transporters comprising linkers (B or AhxB) are given below in Table 3:

TABLE 3 Arginine-Rich Cell-Penetrating Peptide Transporters SEQ ID Name (Designation) Sequence NO.^(a) rTAT RRRQRRKKR 56 Tat RKKRRQRRR 57 R₉F₂ RRRRRRRRRFF 58 R₅F₂R₄ RRRRRFFRRRR 59 R₄ RRRR 60 R₅ RRRRR 61 R₆ RRRRRR 62 R₇ RRRRRRR 63 R₈ RRRRRRRR 64 R₉ RRRRRRRRR 65 (RAhxR)₄; (P007) RAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxR 66 (RAhxR)₅; (CP04057) RAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxR 67 (RAhxRRBR)₂; (CP06062) RAhxRRBRRAhxRRBR 68 (RAR)₄F₂ RARRARRARRARFFC 69 (RGR)₄F₂ RGRRGRRGRRGRFFC 70 ^(a)Sequences assigned to SEQ ID NOs do not include the linkage portion (e.g., C, G, Ahx, B, AhxB where Ahx and B refer to 6-aminohexanoic acid and beta-alanine, respectively).

C. Properties of the Oligomers

As noted above, the present disclosure is directed to oligomer comprising various modifications which impart desirable properties (e.g., increased antisense activity) to the oligomers. In certain embodiments, the oligomer comprises a backbone comprising a sequence of morpholino ring structures joined by intersubunit linkages, the intersubunit linkages joining a 3′-end of one morpholino ring structure to a 5′-end of an adjacent morpholino ring structure, wherein each morpholino ring structure is bound to a base-pairing moiety, such that the oligomer can bind in a sequence-specific manner to a target nucleic acid. The morpholino ring structures may have the following structure (i):

wherein B is, at each occurrence, independently a base-pairing moiety.

Each morpholino ring structure supports a base pairing moiety (Pi), to form a sequence of base pairing moieties which is typically designed to hybridize to a selected antisense target in a cell or in a subject being treated. The base pairing moiety may be a purine or pyrimidine found in native DNA or RNA (A, G, C, T, or U) or an analog, such as hypoxanthine (the base component of the nucleoside inosine) or 5-methyl cytosine. Analog bases that confer improved binding affinity to the oligomer can also be utilized. Exemplary analogs in this regard include C5-propynyl-modifed pyrimidines, 9-(aminoethoxy)phenoxazine (G-clamp) and the like.

As noted above, the oligomer may be modified, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, to include one or more (B) linkages, e.g. up to about 1 per every 2-5 uncharged linkages, typically 3-5 per every 10 uncharged linkages. Certain embodiments also include one or more linkages of type (B). Optimal improvement in antisense activity is seen where up to about half of the backbone linkages are type (B). Some, but not maximum enhancement is typically seen with a small number e.g., 10-20% of (B) linkages.

In one embodiment, the linkage types (A) and (B) are interspersed along the backbone. In some embodiments, the oligomer does not have a strictly alternating pattern of (A) and (B) linkages along its entire length. The oligomers may optionally comprise a 5′ and/or 3′ modification as described above.

Also considered are oligomers having blocks of (A) linkages and blocks of (B) linkages; for example, a central block of (A) linkages may be flanked by blocks of (B) linkages, or vice versa. In one embodiment, the oligomer has approximately equal-length 5′, 3; and center regions, and the percentage of (B) or (A) linkages in the center region is greater than about 50%, or greater than about 70%. Oligomers for use in antisense applications generally range in length from about 10 to about 40 subunits, more preferably about 15 to 25 subunits. For example, an oligomer of the invention having 19-20 subunits, a useful length for an antisense oligomer, may ideally have two to seven, e.g. four to six, or three to five, (B) linkages, and the remainder (A) linkages. An oligomer having 14-15 subunits may ideally have two to five, e.g. 3 or 4, (B) linkages and the remainder (A) linkages.

The morpholino subunits may also be linked by non-phosphorus-based intersubunit linkages, as described further below, where at least one linkage is linkage (B).

Other oligonucleotide analog linkages which are uncharged in their unmodified state but which could also bear a pendant amine substituent can also be used. For example, a 5′nitrogen atom on a morpholino ring could be employed in a sulfamide linkage (or a urea linkage, where phosphorus is replaced with carbon or sulfur, respectively).

In some embodiments for antisense applications, the oligomer may be 100% complementary to the nucleic acid target sequence, or it may include mismatches, e.g., to accommodate variants, as long as a heteroduplex formed between the oligomer and nucleic acid target sequence is sufficiently stable to withstand the action of cellular nucleases and other modes of degradation which may occur in vivo. Mismatches, if present, are less destabilizing toward the end regions of the hybrid duplex than in the middle. The number of mismatches allowed will depend on the length of the oligomer, the percentage of G:C base pairs in the duplex, and the position of the mismatch(es) in the duplex, according to well understood principles of duplex stability. Although such an antisense oligomer is not necessarily 100% complementary to the nucleic acid target sequence, it is effective to stably and specifically bind to the target sequence, such that a biological activity of the nucleic acid target, e.g., expression of encoded protein(s), is modulated.

The stability of the duplex formed between an oligomer and the target sequence is a function of the binding T_(m) and the susceptibility of the duplex to cellular enzymatic cleavage. The T_(m) of an antisense compound with respect to complementary-sequence RNA may be measured by conventional methods, such as those described by Hames et al., Nucleic Acid Hybridization, IRL Press, 1985, pp. 107-108 or as described in Miyada C. G. and Wallace R. B., 1987, Oligonucleotide hybridization techniques, Methods Enzymol. Vol. 154 pp. 94-107.

In some embodiments, each antisense oligomer has a binding T_(m), with respect to a complementary-sequence RNA, of greater than body temperature or in other embodiments greater than 50° C. In other embodiments T_(m)'s are in the range 60-80° C. or greater. According to well known principles, the T_(m) of an oligomer compound, with respect to a complementary-based RNA hybrid, can be increased by increasing the ratio of C:G paired bases in the duplex, and/or by increasing the length (in base pairs) of the heteroduplex. At the same time, for purposes of optimizing cellular uptake, it may be advantageous to limit the size of the oligomer. For this reason, compounds that show high T_(m) (50° C. or greater) at a length of 20 bases or less are generally preferred over those requiring greater than 20 bases for high T_(m) values. For some applications, longer oligomers, for example longer than 20 bases may have certain advantages. For example, in certain embodiments longer oligomers may find particular utility for use in exon skipping or splice modulation.

The targeting sequence bases may be normal DNA bases or analogues thereof, e.g., uracil and inosine that are capable of Watson-Crick base pairing to target-sequence RNA bases.

The oligomers may also incorporate guanine bases in place of adenine when the target nucleotide is a uracil residue. This is useful when the target sequence varies across different viral species and the variation at any given nucleotide residue is either cytosine or uracil. By utilizing guanine in the targeting oligomer at the position of variability, the well-known ability of guanine to base pair with uracil (termed C/U:G base pairing) can be exploited. By incorporating guanine at these locations, a single oligomer can effectively target a wider range of RNA target variability.

The compounds (e.g., oligomers, intersubunit linkages, terminal groups) may exist in different isomeric forms, for example structural isomers (e.g., tautomers). With regard to stereoisomers, the compounds may have chiral centers and may occur as racemates, enantiomerically enriched mixtures, individual enantiomers, mixture or diastereomers or individual diastereomers. All such isomeric forms are included within the present invention, including mixtures thereof. The compounds may also possess axial chirality which may result in atropisomers. Furthermore, some of the crystalline forms of the compounds may exist as polymorphs, which are included in the present invention. In addition, some of the compounds may also form solvates with water or other organic solvents. Such solvates are similarly included within the scope of this invention.

The oligomers described herein may be used in methods of inhibiting production of a protein or replication of a virus. Accordingly, in one embodiment a nucleic acid encoding such a protein is exposed to an oligomer as disclosed herein. In further embodiments of the foregoing, the antisense oligomer comprises either a 5′ or 3′ modified terminal group or combinations thereof, as disclosed herein, and the base pairing moieties B form a sequence effective to hybridize to a portion of the nucleic acid at a location effective to inhibit production of the protein. In one embodiment, the location is an ATG start codon region of an mRNA, a splice site of a pre-mRNA, or a viral target sequence as described below.

In one embodiment, the oligomer has a T_(m) with respect to binding to the target sequence of greater than about 50° C., and it is taken up by mammalian cells or bacterial cells. In another embodiment, the oligomer may be conjugated to a transport moiety, for example an arginine-rich peptide, as described herein to facilitate such uptake. In another embodiment, the terminal modifications described herein can function as a transport moiety to facilitate uptake by mammalian and/or bacterial cells.

The preparation and properties of morpholino oligomers is described in more detail below and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,444 and WO/2009/064471, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

D. Formulation and Administration of the Oligomers

The present disclosure also provides for formulation and delivery of the disclosed oligomer. Accordingly, in one embodiment the present disclosure is directed to a composition comprising an oligomer as disclosed herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

Effective delivery of the antisense oligomer to the target nucleic acid is an important aspect of treatment. Routes of antisense oligomer delivery include, but are not limited to, various systemic routes, including oral and parenteral routes, e.g., intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and intramuscular, as well as inhalation, transdermal and topical delivery. The appropriate route may be determined by one of skill in the art, as appropriate to the condition of the subject under treatment. For example, an appropriate route for delivery of an antisense oligomer in the treatment of a viral infection of the skin is topical delivery, while delivery of a antisense oligomer for the treatment of a viral respiratory infection is by inhalation. The oligomer may also be delivered directly to the site of viral infection, or to the bloodstream.

The antisense oligomer may be administered in any convenient vehicle which is physiologically and/or pharmaceutically acceptable. Such a composition may include any of a variety of standard pharmaceutically acceptable carriers employed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Examples include, but are not limited to, saline, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), water, aqueous ethanol, emulsions, such as oil/water emulsions or triglyceride emulsions, tablets and capsules. The choice of suitable physiologically acceptable carrier will vary dependent upon the chosen mode of administration.

The compounds (e.g., oligomers) of the present invention may generally be utilized as the free acid or free base. Alternatively, the compounds of this invention may be used in the form of acid or base addition salts. Acid addition salts of the free amino compounds of the present invention may be prepared by methods well known in the art, and may be formed from organic and inorganic acids. Suitable organic acids include maleic, fumaric, benzoic, ascorbic, succinic, methanesulfonic, acetic, trifluoroacetic, oxalic, propionic, tartaric, salicylic, citric, gluconic, lactic, mandelic, cinnamic, aspartic, stearic, palmitic, glycolic, glutamic, and benzenesulfonic acids. Suitable inorganic acids include hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric, and nitric acids. Base addition salts included those salts that form with the carboxylate anion and include salts formed with organic and inorganic cations such as those chosen from the alkali and alkaline earth metals (for example, lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, barium and calcium), as well as the ammonium ion and substituted derivatives thereof (for example, dibenzylammonium, benzylammonium, 2-hydroxyethylammonium, and the like). Thus, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” of structure (I) is intended to encompass any and all acceptable salt forms.

In addition, prodrugs are also included within the context of this invention. Prodrugs are any covalently bonded carriers that release a compound of structure (I) in vivo when such prodrug is administered to a patient. Prodrugs are generally prepared by modifying functional groups in a way such that the modification is cleaved, either by routine manipulation or in vivo, yielding the parent compound. Prodrugs include, for example, compounds of this invention wherein hydroxy, amine or sulfhydryl groups are bonded to any group that, when administered to a patient, cleaves to form the hydroxy, amine or sulfhydryl groups. Thus, representative examples of prodrugs include (but are not limited to) acetate, formate and benzoate derivatives of alcohol and amine functional groups of the compounds of structure (I). Further, in the case of a carboxylic acid (—COOH), esters may be employed, such as methyl esters, ethyl esters, and the like.

In some instances, liposomes may be employed to facilitate uptake of the antisense oligonucleotide into cells. (See, e.g., Williams, S. A., Leukemia 10(12):1980-1989, 1996; Lappalainen et al., Antiviral Res. 23:119, 1994; Uhlmann et al., antisense oligonucleotides: a new therapeutic principle, Chemical Reviews, Volume 90, No. 4, pages 544-584, 1990; Gregoriadis, G., Chapter 14, Liposomes, Drug Carriers in Biology and Medicine, pp. 287-341, Academic Press, 1979). Hydrogels may also be used as vehicles for antisense oligomer administration, for example, as described in WO 93/01286. Alternatively, the oligonucleotides may be administered in microspheres or microparticles. (See, e.g., Wu, G. Y. and Wu, C. H., J. Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432, 1987). Alternatively, the use of gas-filled microbubbles complexed with the antisense oligomers can enhance delivery to target tissues, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,747. Sustained release compositions may also be used. These may include semipermeable polymeric matrices in the form of shaped articles such as films or microcapsules.

In one embodiment, antisense inhibition is effective in treating infection of a host animal by a virus, by contacting a cell infected with the virus with an antisense agent effective to inhibit the replication of the specific virus. The antisense agent is administered to a mammalian subject, e.g., human or domestic animal, infected with a given virus, in a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. It is contemplated that the antisense oligonucleotide arrests the growth of the RNA virus in the host. The RNA virus may be decreased in number or eliminated with little or no detrimental effect on the normal growth or development of the host.

In one aspect of the method, the subject is a human subject, e.g., a patient diagnosed as having a localized or systemic viral infection. The condition of a patient may also dictate prophylactic administration of an antisense oligomer of the invention, e.g. in the case of a patient who (1) is immunocompromised; (2) is a burn victim; (3) has an indwelling catheter; or (4) is about to undergo or has recently undergone surgery. In one preferred embodiment, the oligomer is a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer, contained in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and is delivered orally. In another preferred embodiment, the oligomer is a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer, contained in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and is delivered intravenously (i.v.).

In another application of the method, the subject is a livestock animal, e.g., a chicken, turkey, pig, cow or goat, etc, and the treatment is either prophylactic or therapeutic. The invention also includes a livestock and poultry food composition containing a food grain supplemented with a subtherapeutic amount of an antiviral antisense compound of the type described above. Also contemplated is, in a method of feeding livestock and poultry with a food grain supplemented with subtherapeutic levels of an antiviral, an improvement in which the food grain is supplemented with a subtherapeutic amount of an antiviral oligonucleotide composition as described above.

In one embodiment, the antisense compound is administered in an amount and manner effective to result in a peak blood concentration of at least 200-400 nM antisense oligomer. Typically, one or more doses of antisense oligomer are administered, generally at regular intervals, for a period of about one to two weeks. Preferred doses for oral administration are from about 1-1000 mg oligomer per 70 kg. In some cases, doses of greater than 1000 mg oligomer/patient may be necessary. For i.v. administration, preferred doses are from about 0.5 mg to 1000 mg oligomer per 70 kg. The antisense oligomer may be administered at regular intervals for a short time period, e.g., daily for two weeks or less. However, in some cases the oligomer is administered intermittently over a longer period of time. Administration may be followed by, or concurrent with, administration of an antibiotic or other therapeutic treatment. The treatment regimen may be adjusted (dose, frequency, route, etc.) as indicated, based on the results of immunoassays, other biochemical tests and physiological examination of the subject under treatment.

An effective in vivo treatment regimen using the antisense oligonucleotides of the invention may vary according to the duration, dose, frequency and route of administration, as well as the condition of the subject under treatment (i.e., prophylactic administration versus administration in response to localized or systemic infection). Accordingly, such in vivo therapy will often require monitoring by tests appropriate to the particular type of viral infection under treatment, and corresponding adjustments in the dose or treatment regimen, in order to achieve an optimal therapeutic outcome. Treatment may be monitored, e.g., by general indicators of disease and/or infection, such as complete blood count (CBC), nucleic acid detection methods, immunodiagnostic tests, viral culture, or detection of heteroduplex.

The efficacy of an in vivo administered antiviral antisense oligomer of the invention in inhibiting or eliminating the growth of one or more types of RNA virus may be determined from biological samples (tissue, blood, urine etc.) taken from a subject prior to, during and subsequent to administration of the antisense oligomer. Assays of such samples include (1) monitoring the presence or absence of heteroduplex formation with target and non-target sequences, using procedures known to those skilled in the art, e.g., an electrophoretic gel mobility assay; (2) monitoring the amount of viral protein production, as determined by standard techniques such as ELISA or Western blotting, or (3) measuring the effect on viral titer, e.g. by the method of Spearman-Karber. (See, for example, Pari, G. S. et al., Antimicrob. Agents and Chemotherapy 39(5):1157-1161, 1995; Anderson, K. P. et al., Antimicrob. Agents and Chemotherapy 40(9):2004-2011, 1996, Cottral, G. E. (ed) in: Manual of Standard Methods for Veterinary Microbiology, pp. 60-93, 1978).

In some embodiments, the oligomer is actively taken up by mammalian cells. In further embodiments, the oligomer may be conjugated to a transport moiety (e.g., transport peptide) as described herein to facilitate such uptake.

E. Preparation of the Oligomers

The morpholino subunits, the modified intersubunit linkages and oligomers comprising the same can be prepared as described in the examples and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,185,444 and 7,943,762 which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The morpholino subunits can be prepared according to the following general Reaction Scheme I.

Referring to Reaction Scheme 1, wherein B represents a base pairing moiety and PG represents a protecting group, the morpholino subunits may be prepared from the corresponding ribinucleoside (1) as shown. The morpholino subunit (2) may be optionally protected by reaction with a suitable protecting group precursor, for example trityl chloride. The 3′ protecting group is generally removed during solid-state oligomer synthesis as described in more detail below. The base pairing poiety may be suitable protected for sold phase oligomer synthesis. Suitable protecting groups include benzoyl for adenine and cytosine, phenylacetyl for guanine, and pivaloyloxymethyl for hypoxanthine (I). The pivaloyloxymethyl group can be introduced onto the N1 position of the hypoxanthine heterocyclic base. Although an unprotected hypoxanthine subunit, may be employed, yields in activation reactions are far superior when the base is protected. Other suitable protecting groups include those disclosed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/271,040, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Reaction of 3 with the activated phosphorous compound 4, results in morpholino subunits having the desired linkage moiety (5). Compounds of structure 4 can be prepared using any number of methods known to those of skill in the art. For example, such compounds may be prepared by reaction of the corresponding amine and phosphorous oxychloride. In this regard, the amine starting material can be prepared using any method known in the art, for example those methods described in the Examples and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,762. Although the above scheme depicts preparation of linkages of type (B) (e.g., X is —NR⁸R⁹), linkages of type (A) (e.g., X is dimethyl amine) can be prepared in an analogous manner.

Compounds of structure 5 can be used in solid-phase automated oligomer synthesis for preparation of oligomers comprising the intersubunit linkages. Such methods are well known in the art. Briefly, a compound of structure 5 may be modified at the 5′ end to contain a linker to a solid support. For example, compound 5 may be linked to a solid support by a linker comprising L¹ and/or R¹⁹. An exemplary method is demonstrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this manner, the oligo may comprise a 5′-terminal modification after oligomer synthesis is complete and the oligomer is cleaved from the solid support. Once supported, the protecting group of 5 (e.g., trityl) is removed and the free amine is reacted with an activated phosphorous moiety of a second compound of structure 5. This sequence is repeated until the desired length oligo is obtained. The protecting group in the terminal 5′ end may either be removed or left on if a 5′-modification is desired. The oligo can be removed from the solid support using any number of methods, or example treatment with a base to cleave the linkage to the solid support.

In one embodiment, the disclosure provides morpholino subunits for preparation of the oligomers, as well as related methods. The morpholino subunits have the following structure (XXXI)

Wherein W, X and Y are as defined for linkage (B) above, B is a base pairing moiety, Z is a linkage to a solid support or a suitable leaving group and PG is a protecting group, for example C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl. In some embodiments, PG is trityl, for example methoxytrityl. In other embodiments, the linkage to the solid support comprises L² and/or R¹⁹ as defined above. L² is an optional linker comprising bonds selected from alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, amide, ester, disulfide, carbonyl, carbamate, phosphorodiamidate, phosphoroamidate, phosphorothioate, piperazine and phosphodiester. The length of L² is not particularly limited. In some embodiments, L² is less than 60 atoms in length, less than 50 atoms in length or less than 40 atoms length. In some other embodiments, Z is halo, for example chloro.

In still another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of preparing any of the disclosed oligomers. The method comprises use of a compound of structure (XXXI) for preparation of the oligomer.

The preparation of modified morpholino subunits and morpholino oligomers are described in more detail in the Examples. The morpholino oligomers containing any number of modified linkages may be prepared using methods described herein, methods known in the art and/or described by reference herein. Also described in the examples are global modifications of PMO+ morpholino oligomers prepared as previously described (see e.g., PCT publication WO2008036127).

F. Antisense Activity of the Oligomers

The present disclosure also provides a method of inhibiting production of a protein, the method comprising exposing a nucleic acid encoding the protein to an oligomer as disclosed herein. Accordingly, in one embodiment a nucleic acid encoding such a protein is exposed to an antisense oligomer comprising at least one linkage of type (B), or in other embodiments 10% to 50% such modified linkages, as disclosed herein, where the base pairing moieties Pi form a sequence effective to hybridize to a portion of the nucleic acid at a location effective to inhibit production of the protein. The oligomer may target, for example, an ATG start codon region of an mRNA, a splice site of a pre-mRNA, or a viral target sequence as described below. In another embodiment, the method comprises exposing a nucleic acid encoding such a protein to an antisense oligomer comprising at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰ moiety).

In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a method of enhancing antisense activity of an oligomer having a sequence of morpholino subunits, joined by intersubunit linkages, supporting base-pairing moieties, the method comprises modifying an oligomer as described herein to contain at least one of the modified terminal groups, at least one intersubunit linkage of type (B) or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, enhancement of antisense activity may be evidenced by:

-   -   (i) a decrease in expression of an encoded protein, relative to         that provided by a corresponding unmodified oligomer, when         binding of the antisense oligomer to its target sequence is         effective to block a translation start codon for the encoded         protein, or     -   (ii) an increase in expression of an encoded protein, relative         to that provided by a corresponding unmodified oligomer, when         binding of the antisense oligomer to its target sequence is         effective to block an aberrant splice site in a pre-mRNA which         encodes said protein when correctly spliced. Assays suitable for         measurement of these effects are described further below. In one         embodiment, modification provides this activity in a cell-free         translation assay, a splice correction translation assay in cell         culture, or a splice correction gain of function animal model         system as described herein. In one embodiment, activity is         enhanced by a factor of at least two, at least five or at least         ten.

Described below are various exemplary applications of the oligomers of the invention including antiviral applications, treatment of neuromuscular diseases, bacterial infections, inflammation and polycystic kidney disease. This description is not meant to limit the invention in any way but serves to exemplify the range of human and animal disease conditions that can be addressed using oligomers comprising the modified intersubunit linkages described herein.

G. In Vitro Activity in Cell Free Assays

The oligomers with partially modified linkages, such as PMO^(apn) (b10) and PMO^(suc) (b45), have higher affinity for DNA and RNA than do the corresponding neutral compounds, demonstrated by enhanced antisense activity in vitro and in vivo. The oligomers of the invention were shown to provide superior antisense activity compared to fully unmodified oligomers when directed to a variety of different targets. In a first series of experiments, various unmodified, modified and peptide-conjugated PPMO targeting exon 23 of the MDX mouse dystrophin gene were prepared, as described in Materials and Methods and Example 27. The sequences are shown as in Example 27, with the previously described (1-piperazino) phosphinylideneoxy linkage (as shown in FIG. 1B) at each position indicated with a “+” for SEQ ID NOs: 2-5; the 4-aminopiperidinyl linkage (structure (b10); FIG. 2) indicated with an “^(a)” for SEQ ID NO: 5 or; the 4-succinamidopiperazinyl linkage (structure (b45); FIG. 2) indicated with an “^(s)”. As described in Example 27, PMO oligomers containing an exemplary linkage (e.g., PMO^(apn)) of the invention were more active compared to previously described PMO+ compounds.

1. Targeting Stem-Loop Secondary Structure of ssRNA Viruses

One class of an exemplary antisense antiviral compound is a morpholino oligomer as described herein, for example and oligomer comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, having a sequence of 12-40 subunits and a targeting sequence that is complementary to a region associated with stem-loop secondary structure within the 5′-terminal end 40 bases of the positive-sense RNA strand of the targeted virus. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2006/033933 or U.S. Appn. Pubn. Nos. 20060269911 and 20050096291, which are incorporated herein by reference.)

The method comprises first identifying as a viral target sequence, a region within the 5′-terminal 40 bases of the positive strand of the infecting virus whose sequence is capable of forming internal stem-loop secondary structure. There is then constructed, by stepwise solid-phase synthesis, an oligomer comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, and in other embodiments containing 20% to 50% such modified linkages, and having a targeting sequence of at least 12 subunits that is complementary to the virus-genome region capable of forming internal duplex structure, where the oligomer is able to form with the viral target sequence, a heteroduplex structure composed of the positive sense strand of the virus and the oligonucleotide compound, and characterized by a Tm of dissociation of at least 45° C. and disruption of such stem-loop structure.

The target sequence may be identified by analyzing the 5′-terminal sequences, e.g., the 5′-terminal 40 bases, by a computer program capable of performing secondary structure predictions based on a search for the minimal free energy state of the input RNA sequence.

In a related aspect, the oligomers can be used in methods of inhibiting in a mammalian host cell, replication of an infecting RNA virus having a single-stranded, positive-sense genome and selected from one of the Flaviviridae, Picornoviridae, Caliciviridae, Togaviridae, Arteriviridae, Coronaviridae, Astroviridae or Hepeviridae families. The method includes administering to the infected host cells, a virus-inhibitory amount of an oligomer as described herein, having a targeting sequence of at least 12 subunits that is complementary to a region within the 5′-terminal 40 bases of the positive-strand viral genome that is capable of forming internal stem-loop secondary structure. The compound is effective, when administered to the host cells, to form a heteroduplex structure (i) composed of the positive sense strand of the virus and the oligonucleotide compound, and (ii) characterized by a Tm of dissociation of at least 45° C. and disruption of such stem-loop secondary structure. The compound may be administered to a mammalian subject infected with the virus, or at risk of infection with the virus.

Exemplary targeting sequences that target the terminal stem loop structures of the dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses are listed below as SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, respectively.

Additional exemplary targeting sequences that target the terminal stem loop structures of ssRNA viruses can also be found in U.S. appn. Ser. No. 11/801,885 and PCT publication WO/2008/036127 which are incorporated herein by reference.

2. Targeting the First Open Reading Frame of ssRNA Viruses

A second class of exemplary antisense antiviral compounds for use in inhibition of growth of viruses of the picornavirus, calicivirus, togavirus, coronavirus, and flavivirus families having a single-stranded, positive sense genome of less than 12 kb and a first open reading frame that encodes a polyprotein containing multiple functional proteins. In particular embodiments, the virus is an RNA virus from the coronavirus family or a West Nile, Yellow Fever or Dengue virus from the flavivirus family. The inhibiting compounds comprise antisense oligomers described herein, for example oligomers comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, having a targeting base sequence that is substantially complementary to a viral target sequence which spans the AUG start site of the first open reading frame of the viral genome. In one embodiment of the method, the oligomer is administered to a mammalian subject infected with the virus. See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2005/007805 and U.S. Appn. Pubn. No. 2003224353, which are incorporated herein by reference.

The preferred target sequence is a region that spans the AUG start site of the first open reading frame (ORF1) of the viral genome. The first ORF generally encodes a polyprotein containing non-structural proteins such as polymerases, helicases and proteases. By “spans the AUG start site” is meant that the target sequence includes at least three bases on one side of the AUG start site and at least two bases on the other (a total of at least 8 bases). Preferably, it includes at least four bases on each side of the start site (a total of at least 11 bases).

More generally, preferred target sites include targets that are conserved between a variety of viral isolates. Other favored sites include the IRES (internal ribosome entry site), transactivation protein binding sites, and sites of initiation of replication. Complex and large viral genomes, which may provide multiple redundant genes, may be efficiently targeted by targeting host cellular genes coding for viral entry and host response to viral presence.

A variety of viral-genome sequences are available from well known sources, such as the NCBI Genbank databases. The AUG start site of ORF1 may also be identified in the gene database or reference relied upon, or it may be found by scanning the sequence for an AUG codon in the region of the expected ORF1 start site.

The general genomic organization of each of the four virus families is given below, followed by exemplary target sequences obtained for selected members (genera, species or strains) within each family.

3. Targeting Influenza Virus

A third class of exemplary antisense antiviral compounds are used in inhibition of growth of viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family and in the treatment of a viral infection. In one embodiment, the host cell is contacted with an oligomer as described herein, for example an oligomer comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, or in other embodiments comprising 20% to 50% such modified linkages, and comprising a base sequence effective to hybridize to a target region selected from the following: 1) the 5′ or 3′ terminal 25 bases of the negative sense viral RNA segments; 2) the terminal 25 bases of the 5′ or 3′ terminus of the positive sense cRNA; 3) 45 bases surrounding the AUG start codons of influenza viral mRNAs and; 4) 50 bases surrounding the splice donor or acceptor sites of influenza mRNAs subject to alternative splicing. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2006/047683; U.S. Appn. Pubn. No. 20070004661; and PCT Appn. Num. 2010/056613 and U.S. appn. Ser. No. 12/945,081, which are incorporated herein by reference.)

Experiments in support of the invention and designed to target the M1/M2 segment of influenza A virus (H1N1 strain PR8) using PMO with modified linkages of the invention were performed using oligomers based on SEQ ID NO:3, listed below in Table 4 and described in Example 29.

TABLE 4 Influenza targeting sequences that incorporate modified intersubunit linkages or terminal groups NG-10-0038 PMOhex CGG T^(h) TA GAA GAC ^(h) TCA TC^(h) T TT NG-10-0039 PMOhex CGG T^(h) TA GAA GAC ^(h) TCA ^(h) TCT ^(h) TT NG-10-0096 PMOapn CGG T^(a) TA GAA GAC ^(a) TCA TC^(a) T TT NG-10-0097 PMOapn CGG ^(a)T^(a) TA GAA GAC ^(a) TCA ^(a) TC^(a) T TT NG-10-0099 PMOpyr CGG ^(P) T ^(P) TA GAA GAC ^(P) TCA ^(P) TC^(P) T TT NG-10-0107 PMOthiol CGG T^(SH) TA GAA GAC ^(SH) TCA T^(SH) T TT NG-10-0108 PMOsucc CGG T^(s) TA GAA GAC ^(s) TCA TC^(s) T TT NG-10-0111 PMOguan CGG T^(g) TA GAA GAC ^(g) TCA TC^(g) T TT NG-10-0141 PMOpyr CGG T^(P) TA GAA GAC ^(P) TCA TC^(P) T TT NG-10-0142 PMOpyr CGG T ^(P) TA GAA GAC ^(P) TCA ^(P) TC^(P) T TT NG-10-0158 PMOglutaric CGG T^(glu) TA GAA GAC ^(glu) TCA TC^(glu) T TT NG-10-0159 PMOcyclo-glut CGG T^(cpglu) TA GAA GAC ^(cpglu) TCA TC^(cpglu) T TT NG-10-0160 PMOcholic acid CGG T^(ca) TA GAA GAC ^(ca) TCA TC^(ca) T TT NG-10-0161 PMOdeoxyCA CGG T^(dca) TA GAA GAC ^(dca) TCA TC^(dca) T TT NG-10-0180 PMOapn TT^(a) T CGA CA^(a) T CGG T^(a) TA GAA GAC ^(a) TCA T NG-10-0174 PMOm CGG T^(m) TA GAA GAC ^(m) TCA TC^(m) T TT NG-10-0222 PMO MeT CGG T^(Me) TA GAA GAC +TCA TC+T TT NG-10-0223 PMO FarnT CGG T^(Farn) TA GAA GAC +TCA TC+T TT NG-10-0538 PMOapn-trityl CGG T^(a) TA GAA GAC ^(a) TCA TC^(a) T TT NG-10-0539 PMOapn-trityl CGG T^(P) TA GAA GAC ^(P) TCA TC^(P) T TT NG-10-0015 PMO CGG TTA GAA GAC TCA TCT TT NG-11-0170 PMOplus CGG +TTA GAA GAC +TCA TC+T TT NG-11-0145 PMOplus-benzhydryl CGG T+TA GAA GAC +TCA TC+T TT** NG-11-0148 PMOisopropylPip  CGG TiprpipTA GAA GAC iprpipTCA TCiprpipT TT NG-11-0173 PMOpyr CGG pTTA GAA GAC pTCA TCpT TT NG-11-0291 Trimethyl Gly CGG T*+TA GAA GAC *+TCA TC*+T TT **3′-benzhydryl; *+ linkages are trimethyl glycine acylated at the PMOplus linkages; PMOm represents T bases with a methyl group on the 3-nitrogen position.

The compounds are particularly useful in the treatment of influenza virus infection in a mammal. The oligomer may be administered to a mammalian subject infected with the influenza virus, or at risk of infection with the influenza virus.

4. Targeting Viruses of the Picornaviridae family

A fourth class of exemplary antisense antiviral compounds are used in inhibition of growth of viruses of the Picomaviridae family and in the treatment of a viral infection. The compounds are particularly useful in the treatment of Enterovirus and/or Rhinovirus infection in a mammal. In this embodiment, the antisense antiviral compounds comprise morpholino oligomers, for example morpholino oligomers comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, and having a sequence of 12-40 subunits, including at least 12 subunits having a targeting sequence that is complementary to a region associated with viral RNA sequences within one of two 32 conserved nucleotide regions of the viral 5′ untranslated region. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. Nos. WO/2007/030576 and WO/2007/030691 or copending and co-owned U.S. appn. Ser. Nos. 11/518,058 and 11/517,757, which are incorporated herein by reference.) An exemplary targeting sequence is listed below as SEQ NO: 6.

5. Targeting Viruses of the Flavivirus Family

A fifth class of exemplary antisense antiviral compounds are used in inhibition of replication of a flavivirus in animal cells. An exemplary antisense oligomer of this class is a morpholino oligomer comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, between 8-40 nucleotide bases in length and having a sequence of at least 8 bases complementary to a region of the virus' positive strand RNA genome that includes at least a portion of the 5′-cyclization sequence (5′-CS) or 3′-CS sequences of the positive strand flaviviral RNA. A highly preferred target is the 3′-CS and an exemplary targeting sequence for dengue virus is listed below as SEQ ID NO: 7. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. (WO/2005/030800) or copending and co-owned U.S. appn. Ser. No. 10/913,996, which are incorporated herein by reference.)

6. Targeting Viruses of the Nidovirus family

A sixth class of exemplary antisense antiviral compounds are used in inhibition of replication of a nidovirus in virus-infected animal cells. An exemplary antisense oligomer of this class is a morpholino oligomer comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, as described in the present disclosure, and containing between 8-25 nucleotide bases, and has a sequence capable of disrupting base pairing between the transcriptional regulatory sequences (TRS) in the 5′ leader region of the positive-strand viral genome and negative-strand 3′ subgenomic region (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2005/065268 or U.S. Appn. Pubn. No. 20070037763, which are incorporated herein by reference.)

7. Targeting of Filoviruses

In another embodiment, one or more oligomers as described herein can be used in a method of in inhibiting replication within a host cell of an Ebola virus or Marburg virus, by contacting the cell with an oligomer as described herein, for example and oligomer comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, or in other embodiments 20% to 50% such modified linkages, and having a targeting base sequence that is complementary to a target sequence composed of at least 12 contiguous bases within an AUG start-site region of a positive-strand mRNA, as described further below.

The filovirus viral genome is approximately 19,000 bases of single-stranded RNA that is unsegmented and in the antisense orientation. The genome encodes 7 proteins from monocistronic mRNAs complementary to the vRNA.

Target sequences are positive-strand (sense) RNA sequences that span or are just downstream (within 25 bases) or upstream (within 100 bases) of the AUG start codon of selected Ebola virus proteins or the 3′ terminal 30 bases of the minus-strand viral RNA. Preferred protein targets are the viral polymerase subunits VP35 and VP24, although L, nucleoproteins NP and VP30, are also contemplated. Among these early proteins are favored, e.g., VP35 is favored over the later expressed L polymerase.

In another embodiment, one or more oligomers as described herein can be used in a method of in inhibiting replication within a host cell of an Ebola virus or Marburg virus, by contacting the cell with an oligomer as described herein, comprising at least one modified intersubunit linkage, or in other embodiments 20% to 50% such modified linkages, and having a targeting base sequence that is complementary to a target sequence composed of at least 12 contiguous bases within an AUG start-site region of a positive-strand mRNA of the Filovirus mRNA sequences. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2006/050414 or U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,524,829 and 7,507,196, and continuation applications with U.S. apn. Ser. Nos. 12/402,455; 12/402,461; 12/402,464; and 12/853,180 which are incorporated herein by reference.)

8. Targeting of Arenaviruses

In another embodiment, an oligomer as described herein can be used in a method for inhibiting viral infection in mammalian cells by a species in the Arenaviridae family. In one aspect, the oligomers can be used in treating a mammalian subject infected with the virus. (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. No. WO/2007/103529 or U.S. Pat. No. 7,582,615, which are incorporated herein by reference.)

Table 5 is an exemplary list of targeted viruses targeted by oligomers of the invention as organized by their Old World or New World Arenavirus classification.

TABLE 5 Targeted Arenaviruses Family Genus Virus Arenaviridae Arenavirus Old World Arenaviruses Lassa virus (LASV) Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) Mopeia virus (MOPV) New World Arenaviruses Guanarito virus (GTOV) Junín virus (JUNV) Machupo virus (MACV) Pichinide virus (PICV) Pirital virus (PIRV) Sabiá virus (SABV) Tacaribe virus (TCRV) Whitewater Arroyo virus (WWAV)

The genome of Arenaviruses consists of two single-stranded RNA segments designated S (small) and L (large). In virions, the molar ratio of S- to L-segment RNAs is roughly 2:1. The complete S-segment RNA sequence has been determined for several arenaviruses and ranges from 3,366 to 3,535 nucleotides. The complete L-segment RNA sequence has also been determined for several arenaviruses and ranges from 7,102 to 7,279 nucleotides. The 3′ terminal sequences of the S and L RNA segments are identical at 17 of the last 19 nucleotides. These terminal sequences are conserved among all known arenaviruses. The 5′-terminal 19 or 20 nucleotides at the beginning of each genomic RNA are imperfectly complementary with each corresponding 3′ end. Because of this complementarity, the 3′ and 5′ termini are thought to base-pair and form panhandle structures.

Replication of the infecting virion or viral RNA (vRNA) to form an antigenomic, viral-complementary RNA (vcRNA) strand occurs in the infected cell. Both the vRNA and vcRNA encode complementary mRNAs; accordingly, Arenaviruses are classified as ambisense RNA viruses, rather than negative- or positive-sense RNA viruses. The ambisense orientation of viral genes are on both the L- and S-segments. The NP and polymerase genes reside at the 3′ end of the S and L vRNA segments, respectively, and are encoded in the conventional negative sense (i.e., they are expressed through transcription of vRNA or genome-complementary mRNAs). The genes located at the 5′ end of the S and L vRNA segments, GPC and Z, respectively, are encoded in mRNA sense but there is no evidence that they are translated directly from genomic vRNA. These genes are expressed instead through transcription of genomic-sense mRNAs from antigenomes (i.e., the vcRNA), full-length complementary copies of genomic vRNAs that function as replicative intermediates.

An exemplary targeting sequence for the arenavirus family of viruses is listed below as SEQ ID NO: 8.

9. Targeting of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the single most important respiratory pathogen in young children. RSV-caused lower respiratory conditions, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, often require hospitalization in children less than one-year-old. Children with cardiopulmonary diseases and those born prematurely are especially prone to experience severe disorders from this infection. RSV infection is also an important illness in elderly and high-risk adults, and it is the second-most commonly identified cause of viral pneumonia in older persons (Falsey, Hennessey et al. 2005). The World Health Organization estimates that RSV is responsible for 64 million clinical infections and 160 thousand deaths annually worldwide. No vaccines are currently available for the prevention of RSV infection. Although many major advances in our understanding of RSV biology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and host-immune-response have occurred over the past few decades, there continues to be considerable controversy regarding the optimum management of infants and children with RSV infection. Ribavirin is the only licensed antiviral drug for treating RSV infection, but its use is limited to high-risk or severely-ill infants. The utility of Ribavirin has been limited by its cost, variable efficacy, and tendency to generate resistant viruses (Marquardt 1995; Prince 2001). The current need for additional effective anti-RSV agents is well-acknowledged.

It is known that peptide conjugated PMO (PPMO) can be effective in inhibiting RSV both in tissue culture and in an in vivo animal model system (Lai, Stein et al. 2008). Two antisense PPMOs, designed to target the sequence that includes the 5′-terminal region and translation start-site region of RSV L mRNA, were tested for anti-RSV activity in cultures of two human airway cell lines. One of them, (RSV-AUG-2; SEQ ID NO 10), reduced viral titers by >2.0 log₁₀. Intranasal (i.n.) treatment of BALB/c mice with RSV-AUG-2 PPMO before the RSV inoculation produced a reduction in viral titer of 1.2 log₁₀ in lung tissue at day 5 postinfection (p.i.), and attenuated pulmonary inflammation at day 7 postinfection. These data showed that RSV-AUG-2 provided potent anti-RSV activity worthy of further investigation as a candidate for potential therapeutic application (Lai, Stein et al. 2008). Despite the success with RSV-AUG-2 PPMO as described above, it is desirable to avoid incorporating peptide conjugation in an antisense anti-RSV therapeutic due to toxicity concerns and cost of goods considerations. Therefore, in another embodiment of the present invention, one or more oligomers as described herein can be used in a method of inhibiting replication within a host cell of RSV, by contacting the cell with an oligomer as described herein, for example an oligomer comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, or in other embodiments 10% to 50% such modified linkages, and having a targeting base sequence that is complementary to a target sequence composed of at least 12 contiguous bases within an AUG start-site region of an mRNA from RSV, as described further below.

The L gene of RSV codes for a critical component of the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase complex. Antisense PPMO designed against the sequence spanning the AUG translation start-site codon of the RSV L gene mRNA in the form of RSV-AUG-2 PPMO is complementary to sequence from the ‘gene-start’ sequence (GS) present at the 5′ terminus of the L mRNA to 13 nt into the coding sequence. A preferred L gene targeting sequence is therefore complementary to any 12 contiguous bases from the 5′ end of the L gene mRNA extending 40 bases in the 3′ direction or 22 bases into the L gene coding sequence as shown below in Table 3 as SEQ ID NO: 9. Exemplary RSV L gene targeting sequences are listed below in Table 3 as SEQ ID NOs: 10-14. Any of the intersubunit modifications of the invention described herein can be incorporated in the oligomers to provide increased antisense activity, improved intracellular delivery and/or tissue specificity for improved therapeutic activity. Exemplary oligomers containing intersubunit linkages of the invention are listed below in Table 6.

TABLE 6 RSV target and targeting sequences SEQ Name Sequence (5′ to 3′) ID NO L target GGGACAAAATGGATCCCATTATTAATGGAAATTCTGCTAA  9 RSV-AUG-2 TAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 10 RSV-AUG3 AATAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 11 RSV-AUG4 CATTAATAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 12 RSV-AUG5 GAATTTCCATTAATAATGGGATCCATTTTG 13 RSV-AUG6 CAGAATTTCCATTAATAATGGGATCCATT 14 RSV-AUG3apn* AATAA^(apn)TGGGA^(apn)TCCA^(apn)TT^(apn)TTG^(apn)TCCC 11 RSV-AUG3guan AATAA^(guan)TGGGAg^(uan)TCCA^(guan)TT^(guan)TTG^(guan)TCCC 11

10. Neuromuscular Diseases

In another embodiment, a therapeutic oligomer is provided for use in treating a disease condition associated with a neuromuscular disease in a mammalian subject. Exemplary intersubunit oligomer modifications shown to enhance transport into muscle tissue include those having intersubunit linkages of structure b6, b10, b51 and b54. Antisense oligomers that incorporate such linkages into the M23D antisense oligomer (SEQ ID NO: 16) are tested for activity in the MDX mouse model for Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) as described in the Examples. Exemplary oligomers that incorporate the linkages used in some embodiments are listed below in Table 7. In some embodiments, the therapeutic compound may be selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an antisense oligomer targeted against human myostatin, having a base sequence complementary to at least 12 contiguous bases in a target region of the human myostatin mRNA identified by SEQ ID NO: 18, for treating a muscle wasting condition, as described previously (See, e.g., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/493,140, which is incorporated herein by reference; and PCT publication WO2006/086667). Exemplary murine targeting sequences are listed as SEQ ID NOs: 19-20.

(b) an antisense oligomer capable of producing exon skipping in the DMD protein (dystrophin), such as a PMO having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 22 to 35, to restore partial activity of the dystrophin protein, for treating DMD, as described previously (See, e.g., PCT Pubn. Nos. WO/2010/048586 and WO/2006/000057 or U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. Ser. No. 09/061,960 all of which are incorporated herein by reference).

Several other neuromuscular diseases can be treated using the modified linkages and terminal groups of the present invention. Exemplary compounds for treating spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) and myotonic dystrophy (DM) are discussed below.

SMA is an autosomal recessive disease caused by chronic loss of alpha-motor neurons in the spinal cord and can affect both children and adults. Reduced expression of survival motor neuron (SMN) is responsible for the disease (Hua, Sahashi et al. 2010). Mutations that cause SMA are located in the SMN1 gene but a paralogous gene, SMN2, can allow viability by compensating for loss of SMN1 if expressed from an alternative splice form lacking exon 7 (delta7 SMN2). Antisense compounds targeted to inton 6, exon 7 and intron 7 have all been shown to induce exon 7 inclusion to varying degrees. Antisense compounds targeted to intron 7 are preferred (see e.g., PCT Publication Nos. WO/2010/148249, WO/2010/120820, WO/2007/002390 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,838,657). Exemplary antisense sequences that target the SMN2 pre-mRNA and induce improved exon 7 inclusion are listed below as SEQ ID NOs: 36-38. It is contemplated that selected modifications of these oligomer sequences using the modified linkages and terminal groups described herein would have improved properties compared to those known in the art. Furthermore, it is contemplated that any oligomer targeted to intron 7 of the SMN2 gene and incorporating the features of the present invention has the potential to induce exon 7 inclusion and provide a therapeutic benefit to SMA patients. Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are dominantly inherited disorders caused by expression of a toxic RNA leading to neuromuscular degeneration. DM1 and DM2 are associated with long polyCUG and polyCCUG repeats in the 3′-UTR and intron 1 regions of the transcript dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) and zinc finger protein 9 (ZNF9), respectively (see e.g., WO2008/036406). While normal individuals have as many as 30 CTG repeats, DM1 patients carry a larger number of repeats ranging from 50 to thousands. The severity of the disease and the age of onset correlates with the number of repeats. Patients with adult onsets show milder symptoms and have less than 100 repeats, juvenile onset DM1 patients carry as many as 500 repeats and congenital cases usually have around a thousand CTG repeats. The expanded transcripts containing CUG repeats form a secondary structure, accumulate in the nucleus in the form of nuclear foci and sequester RNA-binding proteins (RNA-BP). Several RNA-BP have been implicated in the disease, including muscleblind-like (MBNL) proteins and CUG-binding protein (CUGBP). MBNL proteins are homologous to Drosophila muscleblind (Mbl) proteins necessary for photoreceptor and muscle differentiation. MBNL and CUGBP have been identified as antagonistic splicing regulators of transcripts affected in DM1 such as cardiac troponin T (cTNT), insulin receptor (IR) and muscle-specific chloride channel (ClC-1).

It is known in the art that antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the expanded repeats of the DMPK gene can displace RNA-BP sequestration and reverse myotonia symptoms in an animal model of DM1 (WO2008/036406). It is contemplated that oligomers incorporating features of the present invention would provide improved activity and therapeutic potential for DM1 and DM2 patients. Exemplary sequences targeted to the polyCUG and polyCCUG repeats described above are listed below as SEQ ID NOs: 39-55 and further described in U.S. appn. Ser. No. 13/101,942 which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Additional embodiments of the present invention for treating neuralmuscular disorders are anticipated and include oligomers designed to treat other DNA repeat instability genetic disorders. These diseases include Huntington's disease, spino-cerebellar ataxia, X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy and spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) as described in WO2008/018795.

Experiments performed in support of the invention using the MDX mouse, a murine model for DMD, are described in Example 27.

TABLE 7 M23D sequences (SEQ ID NO: 15) that incorporate modified intersubunit linkages and/or 3′ and/or 5′ terminal groups PMO-X NG Modification 5′ Sequence 3′ NG-10-0383 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG triphenylacetyl AAA T NG-10-0325 triphenylphos OH GGC CAA ACC FCG GCF TAC CFG triphenylphos AAA T NG-10-0272 PMO-farnesyl OH GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG farnesyl AAA T NG-10-0102 PMO OH GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG trityl AAA T NG-10-0330 trimethoxybenzoyl EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG trimethoxybenzoyl AAA T NG-10-0056 PMOplus 5′-pol EG3 GGC C*A*A *ACC TCG GCT TAC H CTG AAA T NG-07-0064 PMO-3′-trityl H-Pip GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG trityl AAA T NG-10-0382 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG triphenylpropionyl AAA T NG-10-0278 PMOpyr EG3 GGC CAA ACC pTCG GCpT pTAC H CpTG AAA pT NG-10-0210 PMOapn EG3 GGC C^(a) A ^(a) A ^(a) ACC TCG GCT TAC H CTG AAA T NG-10-0098 PMOpyr EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(P) TCG GC^(P) T TAC H C^(P) TG AAA T NG-10-0070 PMOapn EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(a) T TAC H C^(a) TG AAA ^(a) T NG-10-0095 PMOapn EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(a) T ^(a) TAC C^(a) T H G AAA ^(a) T NG-10-0317 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG farnesyl AAA T NG-10-0477 PMO triMe Gly EG3 GGC CAA ACC FCG GCF TAC CFG trimethyl Glycine AAA F NG-10-0133 PMOapn OH GGC C^(a) AA ^(a) ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(a) T ^(a) TAC H C^(a) TG AAA ^(a) T NG-10-0387 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG 2-OH, diphenylacet AAA T NG-10-0104 PMoguan EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(g) TCG GC^(g) T TAC C^(g) T Δ^(g) G AAA T NG-10-0420 PMOplus methyl EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(m+) TCG GC^(m+) T TAC Trityl c^(m+) TG AAA ^(m+) T NG-10-0065 PMOtri EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(t) TCG GC^(t) T TAC C^(t) T H G AAA T NG-10-0607 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG 9-fluorene-carboxyl AAA T NG-10-0060 PMOcp EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(cp) TCG GC^(cp) T TAC H C^(cp) T G AAA T NG-10-0162 PMO-COCH₂SH EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG COCH₂SH AAA T NG-10-0328 diphenylacetyl EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG diphenylacetyl AAA T NG-10-0134 PMOapnPMOtri OH GGC C^(a) AA ^(a) ACC ^(t) TCG GC^(t) T ^(t) TAC H C^(t) TG AAA ^(t) T NG-10-0386 PMO DPA GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG 5′-diphenylac,3′- AAA T trity NG-07-0064 PMO-3′-trityl H-Pip GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG trityl AAA T NG-10-0059 PMOcp EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(cp) TCG GC^(cp) T ^(cp) TAC H C^(cp) T G AAA ^(cp) T NG-10-0135 PMOtri OH GGC CAA ACC ^(t) TCG GC^(t) T ^(t) TAC H C^(t) TG AAA ^(t) T NG-10-0168 PMOapn PMOcys OH GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(a) T ^(a) TAC H C^(a) TG AAA ^(SHc) T NG-10-0113 PMOapnPMOtri OH GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(t) T ^(t) TAC H C^(a) TG AAA ^(a) T NG-10-0385 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG diphenylphosphoryl AAA T NG-10-0279 PMO OH GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG geranyl AAA T NG-10-0055 PMOplus disp EG3 GGC C*AA *ACC *TCG GCT TAC H C^(*) TG AAA T NG-10-0105 PMOsucc EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(a) TCG GC^(a) T TAC C^(a) T Δ^(s) G AAA T NG-10-0805 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(Etip) TCG GC^(Etip) T TAC H C^(Etip) TG AAA ^(Etip) T NG-10-0811 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(pyrQMe) TCG GC^(pyrQMe) T H TAC C^(pyrQMe) TG AAA ^(pyrQMe) T NG-10-0057 PMOplus 3′-pol EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC C*TG H *A*A*A T NG-10-0625 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG 5- AAA T carboxyfluorescein NG-10-0804 dimer EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG dimerized AAA T NG-10-0066 PMOtri EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(t) TCG GC^(t) T TAC C^(t) T H G AAA ^(t) T NG-10-0280 PMO disulfide EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG COCH₂CH₂SSPy AAA T NG-10-0212 PMOapn EG3 GGC CaAaA aACC aTCG GCaT H aTaAC CaTG aAaAaA aT NG-10-0156 3′-MeOtrityl EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG MeO-Tr AAA T NG-10-0062 PMOhex EG3 GGC CAA ACC ^(h) TCG GC^(h) T TAC C^(h) T H G AAA ^(h) T NG-11-0043 PMO-X EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG guanidinyl AAA T NG-10-0206 PMOplus EG3 GGC C+A+A +ACC +TCG GC+T H +T+AC C+TG +A+A+A +T NG-10-0383 PMO EG3 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG triphenylacetyl AAA T NG-10-0325 triphenylphos OH GGC CAA ACC FCG GCF TAC CFG triphenylphos AAA T NG-10-0272 PMO-farnesyl OH GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG farnesyl AAA T *Dimerized indicates the oligomer is dimerized by a linkage linking the 3′ ends of the two monomers. For example, the linkage may be -COCH₂CH₂-S-CH(CONH₂)C_(H)2-CO-NHCH₂CH₂CO- or any other suitable linkage.

11. Antibacterial Applications

The invention includes, in another embodiment, an antibacterial antisense oilgomer for use in treating a bacterial infection in a mammalian host. In some embodiments, the oligomer comprises at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, having between 10-20 bases and a targeting sequence of at least 10 contiguous bases complementary to a target region of the infecting bacteria's mRNA for acyl carrier protein (acpP), gyrase A subunit (gyrA), ftsZ, ribosomal protein S10 (rpsJ), leuD, mgtC, pirG, pcaA, and cmal genes, where the target region contains the translational start codon of the bacterial mRNA, or a sequence that is within 20 bases, in an upstream (i.e., 5′) or downstream (i.e., 3′) direction, of the translational start codon, and where the oligomer binds to the mRNA to form a heteroduplex thereby to inhibit replication of the bacteria.

Also included are conjugates of the oligomers where conjugated to the oligomers is an arginine-rich carrier protein coupled to the oligonucleotide at the peptide's carboxyl terminus, and preferably represented by the peptide sequence (RXX)_(n)— or (RXR)_(n), where X is an uncharged amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, β-alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, glycine threonine, phenyalanine, tryptophan, and 6-aminohexanoic acid, and n=2 to 4. In exemplary embodiments, the carrier peptide has the sequence (RFF)_(n), (RFF)_(n)R, or (RXR)_(n) where n=2 to 4. The carrier peptide may be linked at its C-terminus to one end of the oligomer, e.g., the 3′ or 5′-end, through a one- or two-amino acid linker, such as the linker AhxβAla, where Ahx is 6-aminohexanoic acid and βAla is β-alanine. The carrier peptide has the ability, when conjugated to the 3′ or 5′-end of the oligonucleotide, to enhance the anti-bacterial activity of the oligonucleotide, as measured by inhibition in bacterial growth in vitro over an eight-hour period, by a factor of at least 10, and preferably 10² or 10³. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier peptide has the sequence (RAhxR)_(n)—, where n=4.

12. Modulating Nuclear Hormone Receptors

In another embodiment the present invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating expression of nuclear hormone receptors (NHR) from the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily (NHRSF), mainly by controlling or altering the splicing of pre-mRNA that codes for the receptors. Examples of particular NHRs include glucocorticoid receptor (GR), progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR). In certain embodiments, the antisense oligonucleotides and agents described herein lead to increased expression of ligand-independent or other selected forms of the receptors, and decreased expression of their inactive forms.

Embodiments of the present invention include oligomers and oligonucleotide analogs, for example oligomers comprising at least one linkage of type (B) and/or at least one terminal modification (e.g., at least one R²⁰) or combinations thereof, that are complementary to selected exonic or intronic sequences of an NHR, including the “ligand-binding exons” and/or adjacent introns of a NHRSF pre-mRNA, among other NHR-domains described herein. The term “ligand-binding exons” refers to exon(s) that are present in the wild-type mRNA but are removed from the primary transcript (the “pre-mRNA”) to make a ligand-independent form of the mRNA. In certain embodiments, complementarity can be based on sequences in the sequence of pre-mRNA that spans a splice site, which includes, but is not limited to, complementarity based on sequences that span an exon-intron junction. In other embodiments, complementarity can be based solely on the sequence of the intron. In other embodiments, complementarity can be based solely on the sequence of the exon. (See, e.g., U.S. appn. Ser. No. 13/046,356, which is incorporated herein by reference.)

NHR modulators may be useful in treating NHR-associated diseases, including diseases associated with the expression products of genes whose transcription is stimulated or repressed by NHRs. For instance, modulators of NHRs that inhibit AP-1 and/or NF-κB can be useful in the treatment of inflammatory and immune diseases and disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, transplant rejection, and graft vs. host disease, among others described herein and known in the art. Compounds that antagonize transactivation can be useful in treating metabolic diseases associated with increased levels of glucocorticoid, such as diabetes, osteoporosis and glaucoma, among others. Also, compounds that agonize transactivation can be useful in treating metabolic diseases associated with a deficiency in glucocorticoid, such as Addison's disease and others.

Embodiments of the present invention include methods of modulating nuclear NHR activity or expression in a cell, comprising contacting the cell with an antisense oligomer composed of morpholino subunits linked by phosphorus-containing intersubunit linkages joining a morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to a 5′ exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit, wherein the oligonucleotide contains between 10-40 bases and a targeting sequence of at least 10 contiguous bases complementary to a target sequence, wherein the target sequence is a pre-mRNA transcript of the NHR, thereby modulating activity or expression of the NHR. In certain embodiments, the oligomer alters splicing ofthe pre-mRNA transcript and increases expression of a variant of the NHR. In some embodiments, the oligomer induces full or partial exon-skipping of one or more exons of the pre-mRNA transcript. In certain embodiments, the one or more exons encode at least a portion of a ligand-binding domain of the NHR, and the variant is a ligand independent form of the NHR. In certain embodiments, the one or more exons encode at least a portion of a transactivation domain of the NHR, and the variant has reduced transcriptional activation activity. In certain embodiments, the one or more exons encode at least a portion of a DNA-binding domain of the NHR. In certain embodiments, the one or more exons encode at least a portion of an N-terminal activation domain of the NHR. In certain embodiments, the one or more exons encode at least a portion of a carboxy-terminal domain of the NHR. In specific embodiments, the variant binds to NF-κB, AP-1, or both, and reduces transcription of one or more of their pro-inflammatory target genes.

In certain embodiments, the oligomer agonizes a transactivational transcriptional activity of the NHR. In other embodiments, the oligomer antagonizes a transactivational transcriptional activity of the NHR. In certain embodiments, the oligomer agonizes a transrepression activity of the NHR. In other embodiments, the oligomer antagonizes a transrepression activity of the NHR. In specific embodiments, the oligomer antagonizes a transactivational transcriptional activity of the NHR and agonizes a transrepression activity of the NHR. (See, e.g., U.S. appn. Ser. No. 61/313,652, which is incorporated herein by reference.)

EXAMPLES

Unless otherwise noted, all chemicals were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich-Fluka. Benzoyl adenosine, benzoyl cytidine, and phenylacetyl guanosine were obtained from Carbosynth Limited, UK.

Synthesis of PMO, PMO+, PPMO and PMO containing further linkage modifications as described herein was done using methods known in the art and described in pending U.S. application Ser. Nos. 12/271,036 and 12/271,040 and PCT publication number WO/2009/064471, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

PMO with a 3′ trityl modification are synthesized essentially as described in PCT publication number WO/2009/064471 with the exception that the detritylation step is omitted.

Example 1 tert-butyl 4-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)piperidine-1-carboxylate

To a suspension of tert-butyl 4-aminopiperidine-1-carboxylate (48.7 g, 0.243 mol) and DIPEA (130 mL, 0.749 mol) in DCM (250 mL) was added ethyl trifluoroacetate (35.6 mL, 0.300 mol) dropwise while stirring. After 20 hours, the solution was washed with citric acid solution (200 mL×3, 10% w/v aq) and sodium bicarbonate solution (200 mL×3, conc aq), dried (MgSO₄), and filtered through silica (24 g). The silica was washed with DCM and the combined eluant was partially concentrated (100 mL), and used directly in the next step. APCI/MS calcd. for C₁₂H₁₉F₃N₂O₃ 296.1, found m/z=294.9 (M−1).

Example 2 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(piperidin-4-yl)acetamide hydrochloride

To a stirred DCM solution of the title compound of Example 1 (100 mL) was added dropwise a solution of hydrogen chloride (250 mL, 1.0 mol) in 1,4-dioxane (4 M). Stirring was continued for 6 hours, then the suspension was filtered, and the solid washed with diethyl ether (500 mL) to afford the title compound (54.2 g, 96% yield) as a white solid. APCI/MS calcd. for C₇H₁₁F₃N₂O, 196.1, found m/z=196.9 (M+1).

Example 3 (4-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)piperidin-1-yl)phosphonic dichloride

To a cooled (ice/water bath) suspension of the title compound of Example 2 (54.2 g, 0.233 mol) in DCM (250 mL) was added dropwise phosphorus oxychloride (23.9 mL, 0.256 mol) and DIPEA (121.7 mL, 0.699 mol) and stirred. After 15 minutes, the bath was removed and with continued stirring the mixture allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After 1 hour, the mixture was partially concentrated (100 mL), the suspension filtered, and the solid washed with diethyl ether to afford the title compound (43.8 g, 60% yield) as a white solid. The elutant was partially concentrated (100 mL), the resulting suspension filtered, and the solid washed with diethyl ether to afford additional title compound (6.5 g, 9% yield). ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₁₇H₂₂ClF₃N₅O₄P, 483.1, found m/z=482.1 (M−1).

Example 4 ((2S,6S)-6-((R)-5-methyl-2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-3-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl (4-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)piperidin-1-yl)phosphonochloridate

To a stirred, cooled (ice/water bath) solution of the title compound of Example 3 (29.2 g, 93.3 mmol) in DCM (100 mL) was added dropwise over 10 minutes a DCM solution (100 mL) of Mo(Tr)T # (22.6 g, 46.7 mmol), 2,6-Lutidine (21.7 mL, 187 mmol), and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (1.14 g, 9.33 mmol). The bath was allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After 15 hours, the solution was washed with a citric acid solution (200 mL×3, 10% w/v aq), dried (MgSO₄), concentrated, and the crude oil was loaded directly onto column. Chromatography [SiO₂ column (120 g), hexanes/EtOAc eluant (gradient 1:1 to 0:1), repeated ×3] fractions were concentrated to provide the title compound (27.2 g, 77% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for the 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₄₆H₅₀F₃N₈O₈P, 930.3, found m/z=929.5 (M−1).

Example 5 ((2S,6R)-6-(6-benzamido-9H-purin-9-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl (4-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)piperidin-1-yl)phosphorochloridate

The title compound was synthesized in a manner analogous to that described in Example 4 to afford the title compound (15.4 g, 66% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₅₃H₅₃F₃N₁₁O₇P, 1043.4, found m/z=1042.5 (M−1).

Example 6 (R)-methyl(1-phenylethyl)phosphoramidic dichloride

To a cooled (ice/water bath) solution of phosphorus oxychloride (2.83 mL, 30.3 mmol) in DCM (30 mL) was added sequentially, dropwise, and with stirring 2,6-lutidine (7.06 mL, 60.6 mmol) and a DCM solution of (R)-(+)-N,a-dimethylbenzylamine (3.73 g, 27.6 mmol). After 5 minutes, the bath was removed and reaction mixture allowed to warm to ambient temperature. After 1 hour, the reaction solution was washed with a citric acid solution (50 mL x 3, 10% w/v aq), dried (MgSO₄), filtered through SiO₂ and concentrated to provide the title compound (3.80 g) as a white foam. ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₁₉H₂₅N₄O₄P, 404.2, found m/z=403.1 (M−1).

Example 7 (S)-methyl(1-phenylethyl)phosphoramidic dichloride

The title compound was synthesized in a manner analogous to that described in Example 6 to afford the title compound (3.95 g) as a white foam. ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₁₉H₂₅N₄O₄P, 404.2, found m/z=403.1 (M−1).

Example 8 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl methyl((R)-1-phenylethyl)phosphoramidochloridate

The title compound was synthesized in a manner analogous to that described in Example 4 to afford the title chlorophosphoroamidate (4.46 g, 28% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for C₃₈H₄₀ClN₄O₅P, 698.2, found m/z=697.3 (M−1).

Example 9 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl methyl((S)-1-phenylethyl)phosphoramidochloridate

The title compound was synthesized in a manner analogous to that described in Example 4 to afford the title chlorophosphoroamidate (4.65 g, 23% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for C₃₈H₄₀ClN₄O₅P, 698.2, found m/z=697.3 (M−1).

Example 10 (4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl)phosphonic dichloride hydrochloride

To a cooled (ice/water bath) solution of phosphorus oxychloride (5.70 mL, 55.6 mmol) in DCM (30 mL) was added 2,6-lutidine (19.4 mL, 167 mmol) and a DCM solution (30 mL) of 4-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-piperidine (8.58 g, 55.6 mmol) and stirred for 1 hour. The suspension was filtered and solid washed with excess diethyl ether to afford the title pyrrolidine (17.7 g, 91% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₁₉H₃₀N₅O₄P, 423.2, found m/z=422.2 (M−1).

Example 11 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl (4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl)phosphonochloridate hydrochloride

To a stirred, cooled (ice/water bath) solution of the dichlorophosphoramidate 8 (17.7 g, 50.6 mmol) in DCM (100 mL) was added a DCM solution (100 mL) of Mo(Tr)T # (24.5 g, 50.6 mmol), 2,6-Lutidine (17.7 mL, 152 mmol), and 1-methylimidazole (0.401 mL, 5.06 mmol) dropwise over 10 minutes. The bath was allowed to warm to ambient temperature as suspension was stirred. After 6 hours, the suspension was poured onto diethyl ether (1 L), stirred 15 minutes, filtered and solid washed with additional ether to afford a white solid (45.4 g). The crude product was purified by chromatography [SiO₂ column (120 gram), DCM/MeOH eluant (gradient 1:0 to 6:4)], and the combined fractions were poured onto diethyl ether (2.5 L), stirred 15 min, filtered, and the resulting solid washed with additional ether to afford the title compound (23.1 g, 60% yield) as a white solid. ESI/MS calcd. for 1-(4-nitrophenyl)piperazine derivative C₄₈H₅₇N₈O₇P, 888.4, found m/z=887.6 (M−1).

Example 12 3-(tert-butyldisulfanyl)-2-(isobutoxycarbonylamino)propanoic acid

To S-tert-butylmercapto-L-cysteine (10 g, 47.8 mmol) in CH₃CN (40 mL) was added K₂CO₃ (16.5 g, 119.5 mmol) in H₂O (20 mL). After stirring for 15 minutes, isobutyl chloroformate (9.4 mL, 72 mmol) was injected slowly. The reaction was allowed to run for 3 hours. The white solid was filtered through Celite; the filtrate was concentrated to remove CH₃CN. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (200 mL), washed with 1N HCl (40 ml×3), brine (40×1), dried over Na₂SO₄. Desired product (2) was obtained after chromatography (5% MeOH/DCM).

Example 13 tert-butyl 4-(3-(tert-butyldisulfanyl)-2-(isobutoxycarbonylamino)propanamido)piperidine-1-carboxylate

To the acid (compound 2 from Example 12, 6.98 g, 22.6 mmol) in DMF (50 ml was added HATU (8.58 g, 22.6 mmol). After 30 min, Hunig base (4.71 ml, 27.1 mmol) and 1-Boc-4-amino piperidine (5.43 g, 27.1 mmol) were added to the mixture. The reaction was continued stirring at RT for another 3 h. DMF was removed at high vacuum, the crude residue was dissolved in EtAc (300 ml), washed with H₂O (50 ml×3). The final product (3) was obtained after ISCO purification (5% MeOH/DCM).

Example 14 isobutyl 3-(tert-butyldisulfanyl)-1-oxo-1-(piperidin-4-ylamino)propan-2-ylcarbamate

To compound 3 prepared in Example 13 (7.085 g, 18.12 mmol) was added 30 ml of 4M HCl/Dioxane. The reaction was completed after 2 h at RT. The HCl salt (4) was used for the next step without further purification.

Example 15 isobutyl 3-(tert-butyldisulfanyl)-1-(1-(dichlorophosphoryl)piperidin-4-ylamino)-1-oxopropan-2-ylcarbamate

To compound 4 prepared in Example 15 (7.746 g, 18.12 mmol) in DCM (200 ml) at −78° C. was slowly injected POCl₃ (1.69 ml, 18.12 mmol) under Ar, followed by the addition of Et₃N (7.58 ml, 54.36 mmol). The reaction was stirred at RT for 5 h, concentrated to remove excess base and solvent. The product (5) was given as white solid after ISCO purification (50% EtAc/Hexane).

Example 16 isobutyl 3-(tert-butyldisulfanyl)-1-(1-(chloro(((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1 (2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methoxy)phosphoryl)piperidin-4-ylamino)-1-oxopropan-2-ylcarbamate

To 1-((2R,6S)-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)-5-methylpyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (moT(Tr)) (5.576 g, 10.98 mmol) in DCM (100 ml) at 0° C., was added lutidine (1.92 ml, 16.47 mmol) and DMAP (669 mg, 5.5 mmol), followed by the addition of 4 (6.13 g, 12.08 mmol). The reaction was left stirring at RT for 18 h. The desired product (6) was obtained after ISCO purification (50% EtAc/Hexane).

Example 17 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl hexyl(methyl)phosphoramidochloridate

A DCM (80 ml) solution of N-hydroxylmethylamine (4.85 ml, 32 mmol) was cooled down to −78° C. under N₂. A solution of phosphoryl chloride (2.98 ml, 32 mmol) in DCM (10 ml), followed by a solution of Et₃N (4.46 ml, 32 mmol) in DCM (10 ml), was added slowly. The stirring was continued while the reaction was allowed to warm to RT overnight. The desired product (1) was given as clear oil after ISCO purification (20% EtAc/Hexane).

To moT(Tr) (5.10 g, 10.54 mmol) in DCM (100 ml) at 0° C., was added lutidine (3.68 ml, 31.6 mmol) and DMAP (642 mg, 5.27 mmol), followed by the addition of 1 (4.89 g, 21.08 mmol). The reaction was left stirring at RT for 18 h. The desired product (2) was obtained after ISCO purification (50% EtOAc/Hexane).

Example 18 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl dodecyl(methyl)phosphoramidochloridate

The title compound was prepared according to the general procedures described in Examples 6 and 8.

Example 19 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl morpholinophosphonochloridate

The title compound was prepared according to the general procedures described in Examples 6 and 8.

Example 20 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl (S)-2-(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidin-1-ylphosphonochloridate

The title compound was prepared according to the general procedures described in Examples 6 and 8.

Example 21 ((2S,6R)-6-(5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-4-tritylmorpholin-2-yl)methyl 4-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzamido)piperidin-1-ylphosphonochloridate

To 1-Boc-4-piperidine (Ig, 5 mmol) in DCM (20 ml) was added Hunig base (1.74 ml, 10 mmol), followed by the addition of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl chloride (1.38 g, 6 mmol). The reaction was run at RT for 3 h, concentrated to remove solvent and excess base. The residue was dissolved in EtAc (100 ml), washed with 0.05N HCl (3×15 ml), sat. NaHCO₃ (2×15 ml), dried over Na₂SO₄. Product (1) was obtained after ISCO purification (5% MeOH/DCM).

To 7 was added 15 ml of 4N HCl/Dioxane, reaction was terminated after 4 h. 8 was obtained as white solid.

A DCM (20 ml) solution of 8 (1.23 g, 4.18 mmol) was cooled down to −78° C. under N₂. A solution of phosphoryl chloride (0.39 ml, 4.18 mmol) in DCM (2 ml), followed by a solution of Et₃N (0.583 ml, 4.18 mmol) in DCM (2 ml), was added slowly. The stirring was continued while the reaction was allowed to warm to RT overnight. The desired product (9) was obtained after ISCO purification (50% EtAc/Hexane).

To moT(Tr) (1.933 g, 4.0 mmol) in DCM (20 ml) at 0° C., was added lutidine (0.93 ml, 8 mmol) and DMAP (49 mg, 0.4 mmol), followed by the addition of 9 (1.647 g, 4 mmol). The reaction was left stirring at RT for 18 h. The desired product (10) was obtained after ISCO purification (50% EtAc/Hexane).

Example 22 Synthesis of Cyclophosphoramide Containing Subunit (^(CP)T)

The moT subunit (25 g) was suspended in DCM (175 ml) and NMI (N-methylimidazole, 5.94 g, 1.4 eq.) was added to obtain a clear solution. Tosyl chloride was added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction progress was monitored by TLC until done (about 2 hours). An aqueous workup was performed by washing with 0.5 M citric acid buffer (pH=5), followed by brine. The organic layer was separated and dried over Na2SO4. Solvent was removed with a rotavaporator to obtain the crude product which was used in the next step without further purification.

The moT Tosylate prepared above was mixed with propanolamine (1 g/10 ml). The reaction mixture was then placed in an oven at 45° C. overnight followed by dilution with DCM (10 ml). An aqueous workup was performed by washing with 0.5 M citric acid buffer (pH=5), followed by brine. The organic layer was separated and dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removed with a rotavaporator to obtain the crude product. The curde product was analyzed by NMR and HPLC and determined to be ready for the next step without further purification.

The crude product was dissolved in DCM (2.5 ml DCM/g, 1 eq.) and mixed with DIEA (3 eq.). This solution was cooled with dry ice-acetone and POCl₃ was added dropwise (1.5 eq.). The resultant mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. An aqueous workup was performed by washing with 0.5 M citric acid buffer (pH=5), followed by brine. The organic layer was separated and dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removed with a rotavaporator to obtain the crude product as a yellowish solid. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography (crude product/silica=1 to 5 ratio, gradient DCM to 50% EA/DCM), and fractions were pooled according to TLC analysis. Solvent was removed to obtain the desired product as a mixture of diastereomers. The purified product was analyzed by HPLC (NPP quench) and NMR (H-1 and P-31).

The diastereomeric mixture was separated according to the following procedure. The mixture (2.6 g) was dissolved in DCM. This sample was loaded on a RediSepRf column (80 g normal phase made by Teledyne Isco) and eluted with 10% EA/DCM to 50% EA/DCM over 20 minutes. Fractions were collected and analyzed by TLC. Fractions were pooled according to TLC analysis, and solvent was removed with a rotavaporator at room temperature. The diastereomeric ratio of the pooled fractions was determined by P-31 NMR and NPP-TFA analysis. If needed, the above procedure was repeated until the diastereomeric ratio reached 97%.

Example 23 Global Cholic Acid Modification of PmoPLUS

The succinimide activated cholic acid derivative was prepared according to the following procedure. Cholic acid (12 g, 29.4 mmol), N-hydroxysuccinimide (4.0 g, 34.8 mmol), EDCI (5.6 g, 29.3 mmol), and DMAP (1 g, 8.2 mmol) were charged to a round bottom flask. DCM (400 ml) and THF (40 ml) were added to dissolve. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. Water (400 ml) was then added to the reaction mixture, the organic layer separated and washed with water (2×400 ml), followed by sat. NaHCO₃ (300 ml) and brine (300 ml). The organic layer was then dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removed with rotavaporator to obtain a white solid. The curde product was dissolved in chloroform (100 ml) and precipitated into heptane (1000 ml). The solid was collected by filtration, analyzed by HPLC and NMR and used without further purification.

An appropriate amount of PMOplus (20 mg, 2.8 μmol) was weighed into a vial (4 ml) and dissolved in DMSO (500 ul). The activated cholate ester (13 mg, 25 μmol) was added to the reaction mixture according to the ratio of two equivalent of active ester per modification site followed by stirring at room temperature overnight. Reaction progress was determined by MALDI and HPLC (C-18 or SAX).

After the reaction was complete (as determined by disappearance of starting PMOplus), 1 ml of concentrated ammonia was added to the reaction mixture once the reaction is complete. The reaction vial was then placed in an oven (45° C.) overnight (18 hours) followed by cooling to room temperature and dilution with 1% ammonia in water (10 ml). This sample was loaded on to an SPE column (2 cm), and the vial rinsed with 1% ammonia solution (2×2 ml). The SPE column was washed with 1% ammonia in water (3×6 ml), and the product eluted with 45% acetonitrile in 1% ammonia in water (6 ml). Fractions containing oligomer were identified by UV optical density measurement. Product was isolated by lyophilization. Purity and identity were determined by MALDI and HPLC (C-18 and/or SAX).

This same procedure is applicable to deoxycholic acid activation and conjugation to a PMO⁺.

Example 24 Global Guanidinylation of PMOplus

An appropriate amount of PMOplus (25 mg, 2.8 μmol) was weighed into a vial (6 ml). 1H-Pyrozole-1-carboxamidine chloride (15 mg, 102 μmol) and potassium carbonate (20 mg, 0.15 mmol) were added to the vial. Water was added (500 ul), and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight (about 18 hours). Reaction completion was determined by MALDI.

Once complete, the reaction was diluted with 1% ammonia in water (10 ml) and loaded on to an SPE column (2 cm). The vial was rinsed with 1% ammonia solution (2×2 ml), and the SPE column was washed with 1% ammonia in water (3×6 ml). Product was eluted with 45% acetonitrile in 1% ammonia in water (6 ml). Fractions containing oligomer were identified by UV optical density measurement. Product was isolated by lyophilization. Purity and identity were determined by MALDI and HPLC (C-18 and/or SAX).

Example 25 Global thioacetyl modification of PMOplus (M23D)

An appropriate amount of PMOplus (20 mg, 2.3 μmol) was weighed in to a vial (4 ml) and dissolved in DMSO (500 ul). N-succinimidyl-S-acetylthioacetate (SATA) (7 mg, 28 mol) was added to the reaction mixture, and it was allowed to stir at room temperature overnight. Reaction progress was monitored by MALDI and HPLC.

Once complete, 1% ammonia in water was added to the reaction mixture, and it was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. This solution was loaded on to an SPE column (2 cm), The vial was rinsed with 1% ammonia solution (2×2 ml), and the SPE column was washed with 1% ammonia in water (3×6 ml). Product was eluted with 45% acetonitrile in 1% ammonia in water (6 ml). Fractions containing oligomer were identified by UV optical density measurement. Product was isolated by lyophilization. Purity and identity were determined by MALDI and HPLC (C-18 and/or SAX).

Example 26 Global Succinic Acid Modification of PMOplus

An appropriate amount of PMOplus (32 mg, 3.7 μmol) was weighed in to a vial (4 ml) and dissolved in DMSO (500 ul). N-ethyl morpholino (12 mg, 100 μmol) and succinic anhydride (10 mg, 100 μmol) were added to the reaction mixture, and it was allowed to stir at room temperature overnight. Reaction progress was monitored by MALDI and HPLC.

Once complete, 1% ammonia in water was added to the reaction mixture, and it was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. This solution was loaded on to an SPE column (2 cm), The vial was rinsed with 1% ammonia solution (2×2 ml), and the SPE column was washed with 1% ammonia in water (3×6 ml). Product was eluted with 45% acetonitrile in 1% ammonia in water (6 ml). Fractions containing oligomer were identified by UV optical density measurement. Product was isolated by lyophilization. Purity and identity were determined by MALDI and HPLC (C-18 and/or SAX).

The above procedure is applicable to glutartic acid (glutaric anhydride) and tetramethyleneglutaric acid (tetramethyleneglutaric anhydride) modification of PMOplus as well.

Example 27 Treatment of MDX Mice with Exemplary PMO Oligomers of the Invention

The MDX mouse is an accepted and well-characterized animal model for Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) containing a mutation in exon 23 of the dystrophin gene. The M23D antisense sequence (SEQ ID NO:15) is known to induce exon 23 skipping and restoration of functional dystrophin expression. MDX mice were dosed once (50 mg/kg) by tail vein injection with either M23D PMO+ oligomers (NG-09-0711, NG-10-0055, NG-10-0056) or two PMO compounds containing either the 4-aminopiperidinyl linkage (NG-10-0070 containing the PMO^(apn) linkage described above and shown in FIG. 2) and the 4-succinamidopiperazinyl linkage (NG-10-0105 containing the PMO^(suc) linkage described above and shown in FIG. 2). A peptide-conjugated PMO (PPMO) was used as a positive control in the experiment (AVI-5225; SEQ ID NO: 16). All tested oligomer has the same antisense sequence, but varied by type of linkage or a peptide (in the case of AVI-5225, see Table 8)). One week post-injection, the MDX mice were sacrificed and RNA was extracted from various muscle tissues. End-point PCR was used to determine the relative abundance of dystrophin mRNA containing exon 23 and mRNA lacking exon 23 due to antisense-induced exon skipping. Percent exon 23 skipping is a measure of antisense activity in vivo. FIG. 5 shows the results from the quadriceps one week post-treatment. NG-10-0070 containing four cationic 4-aminopiperidinyl linkages shows a two-fold increase in activity compared to any of the PMO+ compounds (NG-10-0055, -0056 and -0057). The NG-10-0105 compound containing four anionic 4-succinamidopiperazinyl linkages was equally active compared to the PMO+ oligomers. As expected the AVI-5225 PPMO (peptide conjugated) compound was most effective due to the cell penetrating delivery peptide. The vehicle and WT C57 (wild-type mice) treatments were negative controls and did not express exon 23 skipped dystrophin mRNA.

TABLE 8 Sequences of Example 27 SEQ ID Name Sequence (5′ to 3′) NO M23D GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT 15 NG-09-0711 GGC CAA ACC +TCG GC+T TAC C+TG AAA +T N/A NG-10-0055 GGC CAA +ACC +TCG GCT TAC CTG AAA T N/A NG-10-0056 GGC CAA +ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG AAA T N/A NG-10-0057 GGC CAA ACC TCG GCT TAC CTG +AAA T N/A NG-10-0070 GGC CAA ACC ^(apn)TCG GC^(apn)T TAC C^(apn)TG AAA ^(apn)T N/A NG-10-0105 GGC CAA ACC ^(suc)TCG GC^(suc)T TAC C^(suc)TG AAA T N/A AVI-5225 GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT- 16 RAhxRRBRRAhxRRBRAhxB

Additional experiments in support of the invention were performed using a wider range of modified intersubunit linkages within the M23D PMO and used in the MDX mouse model as described above. A subset of the oligomers with the linkages are listed as above in Table 7. FIG. 6 shows the results from this expanded screen and shows the M23D oligomers with the highest activity are NG-10-0070, NG-10-0104, NG-10-0095 and NG-10-0133 comprising linkages b10, b54, b10 and b10, respectively (in FIG. 6, the labels on the x axis correspond to the last 3 digits of the compound ID #). The MDX mice received a single injection intravenously at a 50 mg/kg dose. Other active compounds shown in FIG. 6 are M23D PMO comprising terminal modifications and are described above in Table 6. All the compounds were compared to a PMO without any intersubunit or terminal modifications (SEQ ID NO:15).

Additional experiments in support of the invention used an even greater expansion of compounds with intersubunit and terminal linkages. Intersubunit linkage modifications are shown above in Table 9. Results using those compounds are shown below in Table 9. The results are ordered with the most active compounds at the top of the table.

TABLE 9 Exon 23 skipping in quadricep and diaphram tissue from MDX mice treated with PMO-X compounds of the invention PMO-X Dose Exon skip % NG # modification mg/kg Quads Diaph NG-10-0383 PMO 30 61 20 NG-10-0325 triphenylphos 30 54 46 NG-10-0272 PMO-farnesyl 30 48 14 NG-10-0102 PMO 30 44 23 NG-10-0330 trimethoxybenzoyl 30 40 7 NG-10-0056 PMOplus 5′-pol 23 40 13 NG-07-0064 PMO-3′-trityl 30 37 24 NG-10-0382 PMO 30 36 18 NG-10-0278 PMOpyr 26 35 29 NG-10-0210 PMOapn 31 34 19 NG-10-0098 PMOpyr 30 31 19 NG-10-0070 PMOapn 30 30 10 NG-10-0095 PMOapn 30 30 11 NG-10-0317 PMO 30 30 17 NG-10-0477 PMO triMe Gly 30 28 32 NG-10-0133 PMOapn 30 28 17 NG-10-0387 PMO 30 28 25 NG-10-0104 PMOguan 30 27 14 NG-10-0420 PMOplus methyl 29 27 25 NG-10-0065 PMOtri 30 26 2 NG-10-0607 PMO-X 30 25 19 NG-10-0060 PMOcp 30 25 6 NG-10-0162 PMO-COCH₂SH 30 25 8 NG-10-0328 diphenylacetyl 30 25 20 NG-10-0134 PMOapnPMOtri 30 23 2 NG-10-0386 PMO 30 22 11 NG-07-0064 PMO-3′-trityl 30 22 23 NG-10-0059 PMOcp 30 22 9 NG-10-0135 PMOtri 30 21 19 NG-10-0168 PMOapn PMOcys 30 21 6 NG-10-0113 PMOapnPMOtri 30 20 20 NG-10-0385 PMO 30 20 32 NG-10-0279 PMO 30 19 22 NG-10-0055 PMOplus disp 30 17 11 NG-10-0105 PMOsucc 30 16 4 NG-10-0805 PMO-X 30 16 21 NG-10-0811 PMO-X 32 16 6 NG-10-0057 PMOplus 3′-pol 30 15 16 NG-10-0625 PMO-X 28 15 11 NG-10-0804 Dimer 35 15 11 NG-10-0066 PMOtri 30 12 1 NG-10-0280 PMO disulfide 30 12 14 NG-10-0212 PMOapn 20 11 15 NG-10-0156 3′-MeOtrityl 30 10 22 NG-10-0062 PMOhex 30 9 10 NG-11-0043 PMO-X 30 9 16 NG-10-0206 PMOplus 31 8 10

Example 28 Treatment of Transgenic EGFP Mice with Exemplary PMO Oligomers of the Invention

Experiments in support of the invention used an eGFP-based assay for in vivo antisense activity and was used to evaluate oligomers comprising the modified intersubunit linkages of the invention. The transgenic eGFP mouse model in which the eGFP-654 transgene, is expressed uniformly throughout the body has been described (Sazani, Gemignani et al. 2002). This model uses a splicing assay for activity in which the modified oligomers of the present invention block aberrant splicing and restore correct splicing of the modified enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) pre-mRNA. In this approach, antisense activity of each oligomer is directly proportional to up-regulation of the eGFP reporter. As a result, the functional effects of the same oligomer can be monitored in almost every tissue. This is in contrast to oligomers targeted to genes whose expression is restricted to or is phenotypically relevant in only certain tissues. In the eGFP-654 mice, the pre-mRNA was readily detectable in all tissues although smaller amounts were found in the bone marrow, skin and brain. The level of translated eGFP is proportional to the potency of the antisense oligomers and their concentration at the site of action. RT-PCR of total RNA isolated from various tissues showed expression of eGFP-654 transcript in all tissues surveyed.

Tissues from eGFP-654 mice (n=6) treated with compound ranging from 5 to 150 mg/kg were collected 8 days post-dosing and frozen at −80° C. Tissues were thawed immediately prior to imaging on a GE Typhoon Trio, misted with PBS, and arrayed directly on the glass platen of the scanner. 50 micron scans to collect eGFP fluorescence were performed using the 488 nm excitation laser and 520 nm BP 40 emission filter with the focal plane at the platen surface. Tissue scans were analyzed using ImageQuant to determine average fluorescence across each tissue. Tissue fluorescence from 3-5 mice treated with vehicle only were averaged to yield an intrinsic background fluorescence measurement for each tissue type. Fold-fluorescence values of the corresponding tissues from compound-treated mice were calculated as the fraction of the vehicle tissue fluorescence. FIGS. 7B-C show the tissue specific activity in the eGFP-654 mouse model of two PMO containing exemplary intersubunit linkages of the invention, NG-10-0110 and NG-10-0323-, containing linkages b54 and b11, respectively. All of the oligomers tested are derived from the eGFP654 sequence (SEQ ID NO: 17). For comparison, results using a PMO having the same sequence, but lacking any intersubunit modifications is shown in FIG. 7A. NG-10-0110 (SEQ ID NO: 17) had high activity in quadriceps and poor activity in liver (FIG. 7B) whereas NG-10-0323 had improved liver activity and muscle delivery (FIG. 7C).

Additional examples in support of the invention included experiments using eGFP (SEQ ID NO:17) oligomers modified using the linkages and terminal groups of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, compared to PMO and PMOplus oligomers, several modified oligomers showed improved eGFP splice-correction activity in various tissues from mice treated as described above.

The specific PMO-X modifications of the compounds described in this example are shown below in Table 10.

TABLE 10 Sequences Used in Example 28 Showing Linkage Type NG-10-0110 GC^(guan)T AT^(guan)T ACC T^(guan)TA ACC CAG NG-10-0323 GC^(pyr)T AT^(pyr)T ACC T^(pyr)TA ACC CAG PMOplus; GC+T AT+T ACC +TTA ACC CAG NG-10-0301 NG-10-0248 GCaT AaTaT ACC aTaTA ACC CAG NG-10-0600 * GCaT ATaT ACC TaTA ACC CAG NG-10-0602 ** GCpT ATpT ACC TpTA ACC CAG NG-10-0389 GCX ATX ACC TXA ACC CAG NG-10-0247 GCpT ApTpT ACC TpTA ACC CAG NG-10-0299 GCaT ATaT ACC TaTA ACC CAG NG-10-0355 *** GCaT ATaT ACC TaTA ACC CAG * trimethyl glycine acylated product from NG-10-0299; ** pT = PMOpyr methylated to quaternary amine from NG-10-0323; X = PMOapn; *** 3′ trityl

Example 29 Treatment of Influenza A Virus Infected Cells with Exemplary PMO Oligomers of the Invention

A series of PMO containing various modified intersubunit linkages was prepared and used to treat influenza A virus-infected cells in culture. The PMO and PMO containing the modified intersubunit linkages of the present inventions were all designed to target the viral M1/M2 segment at the AUG start codon and have one of two base sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4). PMO with the modified intersubunit linkages of the present invention are listed in Table 4 and identified by the NG number designation in the Sequence Listing Table below. Inhibition of influenza A virus replication by antisense targeting of multiple sites within the M1/M2 segment is described in co-owned and co-pending U.S. appn. Ser. No. 12/945,081 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition to inhibition of translation by targeting the common M1/M2 AUG start site, splice donor and splice acceptor sites can also be targeted using compounds of the invention.

An alveolar murine macrophage cell line (ATCC; AMJ2-C11) was infected at 0.1 MOI with H1N1 (strain PR8) and 1 hour post-infection PMO were added. Cells were incubated at 35 degrees C. overnight. Viral supernatant was then taken and incubated with VNAR protease to release viral RNA. HA RNA was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cells were washed, fixed, and permeabilized. M1 and M2 proteins were then probed with monoclonal antibodies for 30 min at 37 degrees C. Cells were washed and anti-mouse IgG conjugated with Alexa 646 was added for 15 min at room temperature. M1 and M2 were then assayed by flow cytometry. To determine M1 and M2 protein levels, the percent of M1 or M2 positive cells was multiplied by the mean fluorescent intensity of M1 or M2. Each sample was then divided by the untreated control to generate the percent of M1 or M2 compared to untreated scramble controls.

FIG. 8 shows the reduction in viral M2 protein levels from cells treated with various compounds of the disclosure. The flow cytometry method described above was used to determine relative M2 protein expression after treatment at 60 micromolar. The oligomers inhibited the production of the M2 protein to varying degrees with NG-10-180 (SEQ ID NO: 3) containing linkage b1 being the most active. Results using PMO without any intersubunit modifications is shown in FIG. 8 as NG-10-0015 (SEQ ID NO:3) for comparison.

Example 30 Treatment of Influenza A Virus Infected Mice In Vivo with Exemplary PMO Oligomers of the Invention

Additional experiments in support of the invention were performed using Balb/c mice infected with the PR8 strain of influenza A. Mice were infected with 3.5 TCID₅₀ via an intranasal inoculation after being treated 4 hours prior with PMO-X compounds of the invention. In some experiments an additional dose of PMO-X was administered at 96 hr post-infection. All doses consisted of 100 micrograms of test compound in 50 microliters of PBS and were administered by intranasal insufflation. The weight of the animals were monitored daily and was used as a clinical endpoint for antiviral drug activity. At day 7 post-infection the animals were sacrificed and lungs were harvested for viral load determinations using the qRT-PCR method described above in Example 29.

TCID₅₀ determinations were made using half-log serial dilutions of the lung homogenates and plated onto AMJ-C12 macrophage cells. After 24 hr at 35 degrees C., the media was changed and incubated for an additional 72 h at 35 degrees C. 50 mL of a solution of 0.5% chicken RBC in PBS was added and incubated for 1 h at 4 degrees C. Hemagglutination pattern was read and TCID₅₀ were calculated using the Reed and Muench method. TCID50 values were then normalized to input tissue weight.

As shown in FIG. 9, PMO-X compounds show increased antiviral activity and decreased weight loss compared to a PMOplus compound after H1N1 infection. Balb/c mice (n=4) were infected with H1N1 and given a single 100 microgram dose of PMO 4 hours prior to infection. Mice were weighed daily and percent weight loss was determined from pre-infection weight. Lungs were harvested day 7 post-infection and assayed for viral load by TCID₅₀. Results are presented as the fold increase in antiviral activity over naked PMO. This experiment shows approximately 50-fold increased antiviral activity of two PMO-X compounds (NG-10-0097 and NG-11-0173; SEQ ID NO:3) compared to un-modified PMO (NG-10-0015; SEQ ID NO: 3) and approximately 10-fold higher activity compared to a PMOplus compound (NG-11-0170; SEQ ID NO: 3).

FIG. 10 shows a similar experiment to that described for FIG. 9 using body weight as a clinical measurement of antiviral activity. Relative to the PMOplus compound (NG-11-0170) several PMO-X compounds showed superior results including compounds containing succinoyl (NG-10-0108), isopropyl piperazine (NG-11-0148) and pyrollidone (NG-11-0173) linkages and a PMOplus compound modified with a 3′ terminal benzhydryl group (NG-11-0145).

Example 31 Preparation of an Oligonucleotide Analogue Comprising a Modified Terminal Group

To a solution of a 25-mer PMO containing a free 3′-end (27.7 mg, 3.226 μmol) in DMSO (300 μL) was added farnesyl bromide (1.75 μl, 6.452 μmol) and diisopropylethylamine (2.24 μL, 12.9 μmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 hours. The crude reaction mixture was diluted with 10 mL of 1% aqueous NH₄OH, and then loaded onto a 2 mL Amberchrome CG300M column. The column was then rinsed with 3 column volumes of water, and the product was eluted with 6 mL of 1:1 acetonitrile and water (v/v). The solution was then lyophilized to obtain the title compound as a white solid.

Example 32 Preparation of Morpholino Oligomers

Preparation of trityl piperazine phenyl carbamate 35 (see FIG. 3): To a cooled suspension of compound 11 in dichloromethane (6 mL/g 11) was added a solution of potassium carbonate (3.2 eq) in water (4 mL/g potassium carbonate). To this two-phase mixture was slowly added a solution of phenyl chloroformate (1.03 eq) in dichloromethane (2 g/g phenyl chloroformate). The reaction mixture was warmed to 20° C. Upon reaction completion (1-2 hr), the layers were separated. The organic layer was washed with water, and dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate. The product 35 was isolated by crystallization from acetonitrile. Yield=80%

Preparation of carbamate alcohol 36: Sodium hydride (1.2 eq) was suspended in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (32 mL/g sodium hydride). To this suspension were added triethylene glycol (10.0 eq) and compound 35 (1.0 eq). The resulting slurry was heated to 95° C. Upon reaction completion (1-2 hr), the mixture was cooled to 20° C. To this mixture was added 30% dichloromethane/methyl tert-butyl ether (v:v) and water. The product-containing organic layer was washed successively with aqueous NaOH, aqueous succinic acid, and saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The product 36 was isolated by crystallization from dichloromethane/methyl tert-butyl ether/heptane. Yield=90%.

Preparation of Tail acid 37: To a solution of compound 36 in tetrahydrofuran (7 mL/g 36) was added succinic anhydride (2.0 eq) and DMAP (0.5 eq). The mixture was heated to 50° C. Upon reaction completion (5 hr), the mixture was cooled to 20° C. and adjusted to pH 8.5 with aqueous NaHCO₃. Methyl tert-butyl ether was added, and the product was extracted into the aqueous layer. Dichloromethane was added, and the mixture was adjusted to pH 3 with aqueous citric acid. The product-containing organic layer was washed with a mixture of pH=3 citrate buffer and saturated aqueous sodium chloride. This dichloromethane solution of 37 was used without isolation in the preparation of compound 38.

Preparation of 38: To the solution of compound 37 was added N-hydroxy-5-norbomene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid imide (HONB) (1.02 eq), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) (0.34 eq), and then 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) (1.1 eq). The mixture was heated to 55° C. Upon reaction completion (4-5 hr), the mixture was cooled to 20° C. and washed successively with 1:1 0.2 M citric acid/brine and brine. The dichloromethane solution underwent solvent exchange to acetone and then to N,N-dimethylformamide, and the product was isolated by precipitation from acetone/N,N-dimethylformamide into saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The crude product was reslurried several times in water to remove residual N,N-dimethylformamide and salts. Yield=70% of 38 from compound 36. Introduction of the activated “Tail” onto the disulfide anchor-resin was performed in NMP by the procedure used for incorporation of the subunits during solid phase synthesis.

Preparation of the Solid Support for Synthesis of Morpholino Oligomers: This procedure was performed in a silanized, jacketed peptide vessel (custom made by ChemGlass, NJ, USA) with a coarse porosity (40-60 μm) glass frit, overhead stirrer, and 3-way Teflon stopcock to allow N2 to bubble up through the frit or a vacuum extraction. Temperature control was achieved in the reaction vessel by a circulating water bath.

The resin treatment/wash steps in the following procedure consist of two basic operations: resin fluidization and solvent/solution extraction. For resin fluidization, the stopcock was positioned to allow N2 flow up through the frit and the specified resin treatment/wash was added to the reactor and allowed to permeate and completely wet the resin. Mixing was then started and the resin slurry mixed for the specified time. For solvent/solution extraction, mixing and N2 flow were stopped and the vacuum pump was started and then the stopcock was positioned to allow evacuation of resin treatment/wash to waste. All resin treatment/wash volumes were 15 mL/g of resin unless noted otherwise.

To aminomethylpolystyrene resin (100-200 mesh; ˜1.0 mmol/g N2 substitution; 75 g, 1 eq, Polymer Labs, UK, part #1464-X799) in a silanized, jacketed peptide vessel was added 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP; 20 ml/g resin) and the resin was allowed to swell with mixing for 1-2 hr. Following evacuation of the swell solvent, the resin was washed with dichloromethane (2×1-2 min), 5% diisopropylethylamine in 25% isopropanol/dichloromethane (2×3-4 min) and dichloromethane (2×1-2 min). After evacuation of the final wash, the resin was fluidized with a solution of disulfide anchor 34 in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (0.17 M; 15 mL/g resin, -2.5 eq) and the resin/reagent mixture was heated at 45° C. for 60 hr. On reaction completion, heating was discontinued and the anchor solution was evacuated and the resin washed with 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (4×3-4 min) and dichloromethane (6×1-2 min). The resin was treated with a solution of 10% (v/v) diethyl dicarbonate in dichloromethane (16 mL/g; 2×5-6 min) and then washed with dichloromethane (6×1-2 min). The resin 39 (see FIG. 4) was dried under a N2 stream for 1-3 hr and then under vacuum to constant weight (+2%). Yield: 110-150% of the original resin weight.

Determination of the Loading of Aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin: The loading of the resin (number of potentially available reactive sites) is determined by a spectrometric assay for the number of triphenylmethyl (trityl) groups per gram of resin.

A known weight of dried resin (25±3 mg) is transferred to a silanized 25 ml volumetric flask and ˜5 mL of 2% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane is added. The contents are mixed by gentle swirling and then allowed to stand for 30 min. The volume is brought up to 25 mL with additional 2% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane and the contents thoroughly mixed. Using a positive displacement pipette, an aliquot of the trityl-containing solution (500 μL) is transferred to a 10 mL volumetric flask and the volume brought up to 10 mL with methanesulfonic acid.

The trityl cation content in the final solution is measured by UV absorbance at 431.7 nm and the resin loading calculated in trityl groups per gram resin (μmol/g) using the appropriate volumes, dilutions, extinction coefficient (ε: 41 μmol-1 cm-1) and resin weight. The assay is performed in triplicate and an average loading calculated.

The resin loading procedure in this example will provide resin with a loading of approximately 500 μmol/g. A loading of 300-400 in μmol/g was obtained if the disulfide anchor incorporation step is performed for 24 hr at room temperature.

Tail loading: Using the same setup and volumes as for the preparation of aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin, the Tail can be introduced into the molecule. For the coupling step, a solution of 38 (0.2 M) in NMP containing 4-ethylmorpholine (NEM, 0.4 M) was used instead of the disulfide anchor solution. After 2 hr at 45° C., the resin 39 was washed twice with 5% diisopropylethylamine in 25% isopropanol/dichloromethane and once with DCM. To the resin was added a solution of benzoic anhydride (0.4 M) and NEM (0.4 M). After 25 min, the reactor jacket was cooled to room temperature, and the resin washed twice with 5% diisopropylethylamine in 25% isopropanol/dichloromethane and eight times with DCM. The resin 40 was filtered and dried under high vacuum. The loading for resin 40 is defined to be the loading of the original aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin 39 used in the Tail loading.

Solid Phase Synthesis: Morpholino Oligomers were prepared on a Gilson AMS-422 Automated Peptide Synthesizer in 2 mL Gilson polypropylene reaction columns (Part #3980270). An aluminum block with channels for water flow was placed around the columns as they sat on the synthesizer. The AMS-422 will alternatively add reagent/wash solutions, hold for a specified time, and evacuate the columns using vacuum.

For oligomers in the range up to about 25 subunits in length, aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin with loading near 500 μmol/g of resin is preferred. For larger oligomers, aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin with loading of 300-400 μmol/g of resin is preferred. If a molecule with 5′-Tail is desired, resin that has been loaded with Tail is chosen with the same loading guidelines.

The following reagent solutions were prepared:

Detritylation Solution: 10% Cyanoacetic Acid (w/v) in 4:1 dichloromethane/acetonitrile; Neutralization Solution: 5% Diisopropylethylamine in 3:1 dichloromethane/isopropanol; Coupling Solution: 0.18 M (or 0.24 M for oligomers having grown longer than 20 subunits) activated Morpholino Subunit of the desired base and linkage type and 0.4 M N ethylmorpholine, in 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone. Dichloromethane (DCM) was used as a transitional wash separating the different reagent solution washes.

On the synthesizer, with the block set to 42° C., to each column containing 30 mg of aminomethylpolystyrene-disulfide resin (or Tail resin) was added 2 mL of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and allowed to sit at room temperature for 30 min. After washing with 2 times 2 mL of dichloromethane, the following synthesis cycle was employed:

Step Volume Delivery Hold time Detritylation  1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds Detritylation  1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds Detritylation  1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds Detritylation  1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds Detritylation  1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds Detritylation  1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds Detritylation  1.5 mL Manifold 15 seconds DCM  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds DCM  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Coupling  350 uL-500 uL Syringe 40 minutes DCM  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds Neutralization  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds DCM  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds DCM  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds DCM  1.5 mL Manifold 30 seconds

The sequences of the individual oligomers were programmed into the synthesizer so that each column receives the proper coupling solution (A, C, G, T, I) in the proper sequence. When the oligomer in a column had completed incorporation of its final subunit, the column was removed from the block and a final cycle performed manually with a coupling solution comprised of 4-methoxytriphenylmethyl chloride (0.32 M in DMI) containing 0.89 M 4-ethylmorpholine.

Cleavage from the resin and removal of bases and backbone protecting groups: After methoxytritylation, the resin was washed 8 times with 2 mL 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. One mL of a cleavage solution consisting of 0.1 M 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) and 0.73 M triethylamine in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone was added, the column capped, and allowed to sit at room temperature for 30 min. After that time, the solution was drained into a 12 mL Wheaton vial. The greatly shrunken resin was washed twice with 300 μL of cleavage solution. To the solution was added 4.0 mL conc aqueous ammonia (stored at −20° C.), the vial capped tightly (with Teflon lined screw cap), and the mixture swirled to mix the solution. The vial was placed in a 45° C. oven for 16-24 hr to effect cleavage of base and backbone protecting groups.

Initial Oligomer Isolation: The vialed ammonolysis solution was removed from the oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. The solution was diluted with 20 mL of 0.28% aqueous ammonia and passed through a 2.5×10 cm column containing Macroprep HQ resin (BioRad). A salt gradient (A: 0.28% ammonia with B: 1 M sodium chloride in 0.28% ammonia; 0-100% B in 60 min) was used to elute the methoxytrityl containing peak. The combined fractions were pooled and further processed depending on the desired product.

Demethoxytritylation of Morpholino Oligomers: The pooled fractions from the Macroprep purification were treated with 1 M H3PO4 to lower the pH to 2.5. After initial mixing, the samples sat at room temperature for 4 min, at which time they are neutralized to pH 10-11 with 2.8% ammonia/water. The products were purified by solid phase extraction (SPE).

Amberchrome CG-300M (Rohm and Haas; Philadelphia, Pa.) (3 mL) is packed into 20 mL fritted columns (BioRad Econo-Pac Chromatography Columns (732-1011)) and the resin rinsed with 3 mL of the following: 0.28% NH₄OH/80% acetonitrile; 0.5M NaOH/20% ethanol; water; 50 mM H3PO4/80% acetonitrile; water; 0.5 NaOH/20% ethanol; water; 0.28% NH4OH.

The solution from the demethoxytritylation was loaded onto the column and the resin rinsed three times with 3-6 mL 0.28% aqueous ammonia. A Wheaton vial (12 mL) was placed under the column and the product eluted by two washes with 2 mL of 45% acetonitrile in 0.28% aqueous ammonia. The solutions were frozen in dry ice and the vials placed in a freeze dryer to produce a fluffy white powder. The samples were dissolved in water, filtered through a 0.22 micron filter (Pall Life Sciences, Acrodisc 25 mm syringe filter, with a 0.2 micron HT Tuffryn membrane) using a syringe and the Optical Density (OD) was measured on a UV spectrophotometer to determine the OD units of oligomer present, as well as dispense sample for analysis. The solutions were then placed back in Wheaton vials for lyophilization.

Analysis of Morpholino Oligomers: MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used to determine the composition of fractions in purifications as well as provide evidence for identity (molecular weight) of the oligomers. Samples were run following dilution with solution of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (sinapinic acid), 3,4,5-trihydoxyacetophenone (THAP) or alpha-cyano-4-hydoxycinnamic acid (HCCA) as matrices.

Cation exchange (SCX) HPLC was performed using a Dionex ProPac SCX-10, 4×250 mm column (Dionex Corporation; Sunnyvale, Calif.) using 25 mM pH=5 sodium acetate 25% acetonitrile (Buffer A) and 25 mM pH=5 sodium acetate 25% acetonitrile 1.5 M potassium chloride (buffer B) (Gradient 10-100% B in 15 min) or 25 mM KH2PO4 25% acetonitrile at pH=3.5 (buffer A) and 25 mM KH2PO4 25% acetonitrile at pH=3.5 with 1.5 M potassium chloride (buffer B) (Gradient 0-35% B in 15 min). The former system was used for positively charged oligomers that do not have a peptide attached, while the latter was used for peptide conjugates.

Purification of Morpholino Oligomers by Cation Exchange Chromatography: The sample is dissolved in 20 mM sodium acetate, pH=4.5 (buffer A) and applied to a column of Source 30 cation exchange resin (GE Healthcare) and eluted with a gradient of 0.5 M sodium chloride in 20 mM sodium acetate and 40% acetonitrile, pH=4.5 (buffer B). The pooled fractions containing product are neutralized with conc aqueous ammonia and applied to an Amberchrome SPE column. The product is eluted, frozen, and lyophilized as above.

TABLE 11 Sequence Listing SEQ Name Sequence (5′ to 3′) ID NO Dengue CGGTCCACGTAGACTAACAACT  1 JEV GAAGTTCACACAGATAAACTTCT  2 M1/M2AUG.20.22 CGGTTAGAAGACTCATCTTT  3 M1/M2AUG.25.26 TTTCGACATCGGTTAGAAGACTCAT  4 NP-AUG GAGACGCCATGATGTGGATGTC  5 Picornavirus GAAACACGGACACCCAAAGTAGT  6 Dengue 3′-CS TCCCAGCGTCAATATGCTGTTT  7 Arenaviruses GCCTAGGATCCACGGTGCGC  8 RSV-L target GGGACAAAATGGATCCCATTATTAATGGAAATTCTGCTAA  9 RSV-AUG-2 TAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 10 RSV-AUG3 AATAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 11 RSV-AUG4 CATTAATAATGGGATCCATTTTGTCCC 12 RSV-AUG5 GAATTTCCATTAATAATGGGATCCATTTTG 13 RSV-AUG6 CAGAATTTCCATTAATAATGGGATCCATT 14 M23D GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT 15 AVI-5225 GGCCAAACCTCGGCTTACCTGAAAT- 16/79 RAhxRRBRRAhxRRBRAhxB eGFP654 GCTATTACCTTAACCCAG 17 huMSTN target GAAAAAAGATTATATTGATTTTAAAATCATGCAAAAAC 18 TGCAACTCTGTGTT muMSTN25-104 CATACATTTGCAGTTTTTGCATCAT 19 muMSTN25-183 TCATTTTTAAAAATCAGCACAATCTT 20 muMSTN25-194 CAGTTTTTGCATCATTTTTAAAAATC 21 Exon44-A GATCTGTCAAATCGCCTGCAGGTAA 22 Exon44-B AAACTGTTCAGCTTCTGTTAGCCAC 23 Exon44-C TTGTGTCTTTCTGAGAAACTGTTCA 24 Exon45-A CTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCTGCCCAA 25 Exon45-B CCAATGCCATCCTGGAGTTCCTGTAA 26 Exon45-C CATTCAATGTTCTGACAACAGTTTGCCGCT 27 Exon50-A CTTACAGGCTCCAATAGTGGTCAGT 28 Exon50-B CCACTCAGAGCTCAGATCTTCTAACTTCC 29 Exon50-C GGGATCCAGTATACTTACAGGCTCC 30 Exon51-A ACATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAGTTTGG 31 Exon51-B CTCCAACATCAAGGAAGATGGCATTTCTAG 32 Exon51-C GAGCAGGTACCTCCAACATCAAGGAA 33 Exon53-A CTGAAGGTGTTCTTGTACTTCATCC 34 Exon53-B TGTTCTTGTACTTCATCCCACTGATTCTGA 35 SMN2-A CTTTCATAATGCTGGCAG 36 SMN2-B CATAATGCTGGCAG 37 SMN2-C GCTGGCAG 38 CAG 9mer CAG CAG CAG 39 CAG 12mer CAG CAG CAG CAG 40 CAG 15mer CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG 41 CAG 18mer CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG 42 AGC 9mer AGC AGC AGC 43 AGC 12mer AGC AGC AGC AGC 44 AGC 15mer AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC 45 AGC 18mer AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC 46 GCA 9mer GCA GCA GCA 47 GCA 12mer GCA GCA GCA GCA 48 GCA 15mer GCA GCA GCA GCA GCA 49 GCA 18mer GCA GCA GCA GCA GCA GCA 50 AGC 25mer AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC AGC A 51 CAG 25mer CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG CAG C 52 CAGG 9mer CAG GCA GGC 53 CAGG 12mer CAG GCA GGC AGG 54 CAGG 24mer CAG GCA GGC AGG CAG GCA GGC AGG 55 Arginine-Rich Cell Penetrating Peptides rTAT RRRQRRKKR 56 Tat RKKRRQRRR 57 R₉F₂ RRRRRRRRRFF 58 R₅F₂R₄ RRRRRFFRRRR 59 R₄ RRRR 60 R₅ RRRRR 61 R₆ RRRRRR 62 R₇ RRRRRRR 63 R₈ RRRRRRRR 64 R₉ RRRRRRRRR 65 (RAhxR)₄; (P007) RAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxR 66 (RAhxR)₅; RAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxRRAhxR 67 (CP04057) (RAhxRRBR)₂; RAhxRRBRRAhxRRBR 68 (CP06062) (RAR)₄F₂ RARRARRARRARFFC 69 (RGR)₄F₂ RGRRGRRGRRGRFFC 70

The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A process for preparing an oligomer, wherein the process comprises: (a) deprotecting the ring nitrogen of a solid-phase-supported morpholino subunit of structure (XXXI); wherein Formula (XXXI) is

or a salt, stereoisomer or tautomer thereof, wherein; W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O; X is, at each occurrence, independently —NR⁸R⁹ or —OR³; Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or -NR¹⁰; R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl, —C(═NH)NH₂, -Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂ or -[C(O)CHR′NH]_(m)H, where Z is carbonyl (C(O)) or a direct bond, R′ is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a one- or two-carbon homolog thereof, and m is 1 to 6; R⁵ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl or an electron pair; R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen C₁-C₆ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkoxyalkyl; R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂ alkyl; R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl; R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷; L is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising alkyl, alkoxy or alkylamino groups, or combinations thereof; wherein, R⁸ and R⁹ may join to form a 5-18 membered mono or bicyclic heterocycle or R⁸, R⁹ or R³ may join with R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 membered heterocycle, and wherein when X is 4-piperazino, X has the following structure (III):

wherein; R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl; R is, at each occurrence, independently an electron pair, hydrogen or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴, —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, oxo, —CN, trifluoromethyl, amidyl, amidinyl, amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl, guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; Z is a linkage to a solid support; B is a base-pairing moiety; and PG is C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl; (b) reacting the product of step (a) with a morpholino subunit of structure (XXXI) wherein Z is halo; (c) repeating n-2 iterations of steps (a) and (b), wherein n is 10 to 40; and (d) cleaving the product of steps (a), (b), and (c) from the solid-phase support, wherein the oligomer is an oligomer comprising a backbone, the backbone comprising a sequence of morpholino ring structures joined by intersubunit linkages, the intersubunit linkages joining a 3′-end of one morpholino ring structure to a 5′-end of an adjacent morpholino ring structure, wherein each morpholino ring structure is bound to a base-pairing moiety, such that the oligomer can bind in a sequence-specific manner to a target nucleic acid, wherein the intersubunit linkages have the following general structure (I):

or a salt, stereoisomer or tautomer thereof, and wherein each of the intersubunit linkages (I) are independently linkage (A) or linkage (B): wherein for linkage (A): W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O; X is, at each occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂, —NR¹R², —OR³ or

Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR²; R¹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl; R² is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷; R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl, —C(═NH)NH₂, -Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂ or -[C(O)CHR′NH_(m)]H, where Z is carbonyl(C(O)) or a direct bond, R′ is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a one- or two-carbon homolog thereof, and m is 1 to 6; R⁵ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl or an electron pair; R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl; R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen C₁-C₆ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkoxyalkyl; L is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising alkyl, alkoxy or alkylamino groups, or combinations thereof; and wherein for linkage (B): W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O; X is, at each occurrence, independently —NR⁸R⁹ or —OR³; and Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR¹⁰, R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂ alkyl; R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl; R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷; wherein R⁸ and R⁹ may join to form a 5-18 membered mono or bicyclic heterocycle or R⁸, R⁹ or R³ may join with R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 membered heterocycle, and wherein when X is 4-piperazinyl, X has the following structure (III):

wherein: R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently C₇-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, wherein alkyl is not substituted with amidinyl or guanidinyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl; and R is, at each occurrence, independently an electron pair, hydrogen or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴, —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, oxo, —CN, trifluoromethyl, amidyl, amidinyl, amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl, guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and wherein at least one of the intersubunit linkages is linkage (B) wherein: i) R⁸ and R⁹ join to form a 5-18 membered mono or bicyclic heterocycle; or ii) R⁸, R⁹ or R³ join with R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 membered heterocycle.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein Z of step (b) is chloro.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the PG is trityl or methoxy trityl.
 4. The process of 1, wherein at least one of the intersubunit linkages is linkage (A), and wherein X is —N(CH₃)₂ at each occurrence of linkage (A).
 5. The process of claim 1, wherein at least one linkage (B) has the following structure (IV):

wherein Z represents a 5-18 membered mono or bicyclic heterocycle.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the oligomer has the following structure (XVII):

or a salt, stereoisomer or tautomer thereof, wherein: R¹⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently absent, hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are, at each occurrence, independently absent, hydrogen, a cell-penetrating peptide, a natural or non-natural amino acid, C₂-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, —C(═O)OR²¹ or R²⁰; R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₀₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₀₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂; R²¹ is C₁-C₃₀ alkyl comprising one or more oxygen or hydroxyl moieties or combinations thereof; each R²² is independently C⁶-C¹² aryloxy B is a base-pairing moiety; L¹ is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising bonds selected from alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, amide, ester, carbonyl, carbamate, phosphorodiamidate, phosphoroamidate, phosphorothioate and phosphodiester; x is an integer of 0 or greater; and provided that both of R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are not absent.
 7. The process of claim 6, wherein at least one of R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is R²⁰.
 8. The process of claim 6, wherein R¹⁹ is piperizinyl or


9. The process of claim 1, wherein the oligomer is an oligomer comprising a backbone, the backbone comprising a sequence of morpholino ring structures joined by intersubunit linkages of type (A), (B), or combinations thereof, wherein each morpholino ring structure supports a base-pairing moiety, such that the oligomer compound can bind in a sequence-specific manner to a target nucleic acid, and wherein the oligomer comprises a 3′ terminus, a 5′ terminus and has the following structure (XVII):

or a salt, stereoisomer or tautomer thereof, and wherein for linkage (A): W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O; X is, at each occurrence, independently —N(CH₃)₂, —NR¹R², —OR³ or;

Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or —NR², R¹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl; R² is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷; R³ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R⁴ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl, —C(═NH)NH₂, -Z-L-NHC(═NH)NH₂ or -[C(O)CHR′NH]_(m)H, where Z is carbonyl(C(O)) or a direct bond, R′ is a side chain of a naturally occurring amino acid or a one- or two-carbon homolog thereof, and m is 1 to 6; R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, methyl or an electron pair; R⁶ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or methyl; R⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen C₁-C₆ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkoxyalkyl; L is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising alkyl, alkoxy or alkylamino groups, or combinations thereof; and wherein for linkage (B): W is, at each occurrence, independently S or O; X is, at each occurrence, independently —NR⁸R⁹ or —OR³; and Y is, at each occurrence, independently O or -NR¹⁰, R⁸ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen or C₂-C₁₂ alkyl; R⁹ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aralkyl or aryl; R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or -LNR⁴R⁵R⁷; wherein R⁸ and R⁹ may join to form a 5-18 membered mono or bicyclic heterocycle or R⁸, R⁹ or R³ may join with R¹⁰ to form a 5-7 membered heterocycle, and wherein when X is 4-piperazinyl, X has the following structure (Ill):

wherein: R¹⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently C₂-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl; and R¹¹ is, at each occurrence, independently an electron pair, hydrogen or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; R¹² is, at each occurrence, independently, hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, —NH₂, —CONH₂, —NR¹³R¹⁴, —NR¹³R¹⁴R¹⁵, C₁-C₁₂ alkylcarbonyl, —CN, trifluoromethyl, amidyl, amidinyl, amidinylalkyl, amidinylalkylcarbonyl, guanidinyl, guanidinylalkyl, guanidinylalkylcarbonyl, cholate, deoxycholate, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, —SR¹³ or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, wherein R¹³, R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are, at each occurrence, independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; and R¹⁷ is, at each occurrence, independently absent, hydrogen or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are, at each occurrence, independently absent, hydrogen, a cell-penetrating peptide, a natural or non-natural amino acid, C₂-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, —C(═O)OR²¹ or R²⁰; R²⁰ is, at each occurrence, independently guanidinyl, heterocyclyl, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; C₆-C₃₀ aryl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkyl, C₃-C₃₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylcarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkylalkylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ arylcarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aralkylcarbonyl, C₂-C₃₀ alkyloxycarbonyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, C₇-C₃₀ aryloxycarbonyl, C₈-C₃₀ aralkyloxycarbonyl, or —P(═O)(R²²)₂; R²¹ is C₁-C₃₀ alkyl comprising one or more oxygen or hydroxyl moieties or combinations thereof; each R²² is independently C⁶-C¹² aryloxy; B is a base-pairing moiety; L¹ is an optional linker up to 18 atoms in length comprising bonds selected from alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkylamino, amide, ester, disulfide, carbonyl, carbamate, phosphorodiamidate, phosphoroamidate, phosphorothioate, piperazine and phosphodiester; x is an integer of 0 or greater; and wherein at least one of R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is R²⁰ and provided that both of R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are not absent, and wherein if R¹⁸ is R²⁰, then R¹⁸ is not trityl, 3-methoxytrityl, or 4-methoxytrityl.
 10. The process of claim 9, wherein R¹⁹ has the following structure:


11. The process of claim 9, wherein R¹⁸ is a cell-penetrating peptide and R¹⁹ is R²⁰.
 12. The process of claim 9, wherein R¹⁹ is a cell-penetrating peptide and R¹⁸ is R²⁰.
 13. The process of claim 9, wherein the cell-penetrating peptide is an arginine-rich peptide.
 14. The process of any of claim 9, wherein the cell-penetrating peptide comprises 6 to 16 subunits selected from X′ subunits, Y′ subunits, and Z subunits, wherein; (a) each X′ subunit independently represents lysine, arginine or an arginine analog, said analog being a cationic a-amino acid comprising a side chain of the structure R³³N═C(NH₂)R³⁴, where R³³ is H or R; R³⁴ is R³⁵, NH₂, NHR, or NR³⁴, where R³⁵ is lower alkyl or lower alkenyl and may further include oxygen or nitrogen; R³ and R³⁴ may together form a ring; and the side chain is linked to said amino acid via R³ or R³⁴; (b) each Y′ subunit independently represents a neutral amino acid —C(O)—(CHR)_(n)—NH—, where n is 2 to 7 and each R is independently H or methyl; and (c) each Z′ subunit independently represents an a-amino acid having a neutral aralkyl side chain; wherein the peptide comprises a sequence represented by one of (X′Y′X′)_(p), (X′Y′)_(m), and (X′Z′Z′)_(p), where p is 2 to 5 and m is 2 to
 8. 15. The process of claim 14, wherein X′ is guanidyl (HN═C(NH₂)NH—), amidinyl (HN═C(NH₂)C—), 2-aminodihydropyrimidyl, 2-aminotetrahydropyrimidyl, 2-aminopyridinyl, and 2-aminopyrimidonyl.
 16. The process of claim 14, wherein the carrier peptide is represented by the sequence (RY′R)₄ and (RRY′)₄, where R is arginine and Y′ is 6-aminohexanoic acid.
 17. The process of claim 14, wherein the cell-penetrating peptide is linked at its C-terminus to the 5′ end of the oligomer through a one- or two-amino acid linker.
 18. The process of claim 14, wherein the linker is AhxB, where Ahx is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit and B is a -alanine subunit.
 19. The process of claim 14, wherein the X′ subunit is guanidyl, as in the amino acid subunit arginine (Arg).
 20. The process of claim 14, wherein the Y′ subunit is —CO—(CH₂)_(n)—CHR—NH—, where n is 2 to 7 and R is H.
 21. The process of claim 14, wherein the Y′ subunit is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit (Ahx).
 22. The process of claim 14, wherein the cell penetrating peptide has the formula (RY′R)_(p) or the formula (RRY′)_(p); wherein Y′ is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit, R is arginine and p is
 4. 23. The process of claim 14, wherein the Z′ subunit is phenylalanine.
 24. The process of claim 14, wherein the cell-penetrating peptide is linked to a terminus of the oligomer via a linker Ahx-B, wherein Ahx is a 6-aminohexanoic acid subunit and B is a 13-alanine subunit. 